#86 Brandon Manumaleuna | TE

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Position: TE

College: Arizona

Height: 6-2

Weight: 288

Age: 28

Experience: 8th NFL Season

Acquired: Trade '06

Hometown: Creve Couer, Missouri

Career Stats

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It’s rare that an NFL team can boast about possessing the best blocking tight end in game and its best receiving tight end. The Chargers are in fact one team that can definitely boast about having both.

Brandon Manumaleuna (MAH-noo-mah-lee-oon-ah) and Antonio Gates give the Chargers a great one-two punch at tight end. While the two differ in size and speed, both are an indelible forces in Norv Turner’s high-powered offense. And it doesn’t hurt that Manumaleuna is an extremely versatile player who has lined up at tight end, fullback, H-back and wide receiver, in addition to playing special teams, during his career.

The 6-2, 288-pound Manumaleuna is as agile and shifty as he his big. And while he doesn’t catch as many passes as Gates, Manumaleuna is as sure-handed as any of the Chargers’ pass catchers. Having a tight end who is a dependable blocker and a good receiver is a key component of Turner’s offensive system. For the fifth-year in a row, Manumaleuna recorded double-digit reception totals and in each of his two years with the Chargers, San Diego’s offense has rushed for more than 2,000 yards.

Manumaleuna joined the Chargers in 2006 after Bolts General Manager A.J. Smith pulled off one of the biggest steals of the draft, shipping a fourth-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for his services. Right away, Manumaleuna became a key cog in the Chargers’ offense, scoring touchdowns on three of his 14 catches, and helping to block for a running game that netted a team-record 2,578 yards and an NFL MVP award for LaDainian Tomlinson.

Brandon’s off-the-field hobbies include playing basketball and spending time with family. Brandon is a second-generation NFL player. His father, Frank, played linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1979-1981. Frank also played at UCLA in the early 1970s. Brandon showed early signs of following in his father’s footsteps. As an 11-year-old, he won the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick Competition.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (128) by St. Louis, April 22, 2001…signed with Rams June 21, 2001…re-signed five-year contract with Rams March 16, 2004…traded to Chargers April 30, 2006 for fourth-round pick (113) in 2006 NFL Draft.

2007: Set up third-quarter touchdown Week 6 vs. Oakland with 12-yard catch on 3rd-and-7 play…on following play, LaDainian Tomlinson scored on 13-yard run to give Bolts 21-7 lead…40-yard catch Dec. 2 at Kansas City was longest catch since 2004…scored first TD of season on one-yard pass from Philip Rivers Dec. 16 vs. Detroit…clutch nine-yard catch-and-run on third-and six play in AFC Wild Card Playoff Game vs. Tennessee Jan. 6 helped sustain touchdown drive that gave Bolts comfortable 17-6 lead in fourth quarter.

2006: Caught eight-yard pass that led to LT one-yard touchdown run on following play for 10-0 lead in season-opening win at Oakland...caught his first touchdown pass of season at Arrowhead Stadium Week 6...his one-yard touchdown catch on halfback option pass from LT on third-and-goal play from one-yard line tied game at 27-27 in fourth quarter...caught season-high four passes against Chiefs...had extensive role in blocking for 216-yard, three-touchdown rushing effort against former team, St. Louis, on Oct. 29...had huge hand in Chargers’ 49-41 win over Cincinnati Nov. 12 with career-high two touchdown catches...first came from nine yards out late in third quarter to get Chargers within three points at 31-28 after team had trailed 21-0 and 28-7...second came on third-and-five play late in fourth quarter to put Chargers ahead 49-41...among two catches against Denver Dec. 10 was highlight-reel play in which he broke several tackles and lost his helmet en route to 19-yard pickup on third-and-seven play late in second quarter...catch came during touchdown drive that allowed Bolts to take 28-3 lead at half...blocking helped Chargers rush for 265 yards against Kansas City, 168 yards at Seattle and 169 yards against Arizona during final three weeks of season.

2005: Caught six-yard touchdown pass in season opener at San Francisco…inactive Weeks 4-5 due to knee injury…set season highs with three catches for 51 yards at Seattle Nov. 13…included season-long 33-yard catch against Seahawks…added 29-yard catch in season finale at Dallas. 2004: Season-high three catches for 33 yards and touchdown in 33-27 overtime win at Seattle Oct. 10…eight-yard touchdown catch sparked 17-point fourth-quarter comeback against Seahawks…also caught three passes for season-high 53 yards against New England Nov. 7…caught career-long 48-yard pass against Patriots.

2003: Set career highs with 29 catches, 238 yards and two touchdowns…season-long 39-yard catch against Atlanta Oct. 13…finished Falcons’ game with career-high 56 yards receiving…caught season-high four passes against Green Bay Oct. 19…four-yard touchdown catch at Chicago Nov. 16…eight-yard touchdown catch at Detroit Dec. 28.

2002: Tallied two catches each at San Francisco Oct. 6, against San Diego Nov. 10 and at Kansas City Dec. 8…season-high 38 yards receiving against Chargers…six-yard touchdown catch in season finale against 49ers.

2001: Only catch of season went for one-yard touchdown against Tampa Bay Nov. 26.

COLLEGE: Second-team All-Pac-10 as junior…finished collegiate career with 40 catches for 544 yards and three scores…began career at Arizona as defensive lineman and made switch to tight end and H-back…played for Wildcats from 1997-2000...majored in political science.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 4, 1980 in Torrance, California…second-team all-state defensive lineman at Narbonne High School in Harbor City…also lettered in basketball and track.

Career Stats

Bolts acquire Manumaleuna from Rams