Manti Te’o is a former American football linebacker who rose to fame as one of the most popular college football players of his generation before moving on to a career in the NFL. As a great leader, tackler, and an excellent performer at college level at Notre Dame, Te’o was known to be one of the best defensive players in football.

Following his selection by the San Diego Chargers in the 2013 NFL Draft, Te’o played for different NFL teams like the Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears. During his career in the NFL, he managed to earn millions in the form of NFL salaries and endorsements. The total earnings during his NFL career are estimated to be around $10.4 million.

However, apart from football, Manti’s personal life became the focus of many media reports after the highly publicized catfishing scandal of 2012, which later got made into a Netflix movie. However, despite the obstacles, he managed to rebuild his personal and professional life and stay connected to football through media.

Manti Te’o Biography Table

Category	Details
Full Name	Manti Malietau Louis Te’o
Date of Birth	January 26, 1991
Age	35 Years (as of 2026)
Birthplace	Laie, Hawaii, USA
Nationality	American
Profession	Former NFL Linebacker, Sports Analyst
Position	Linebacker
College	University of Notre Dame
NFL Draft	2013 (Round 2, Pick 38)
NFL Teams	San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears
Wife	Jovi Nicole Engbino
Children	Two
Net Worth	Estimated $3.5 Million

Manti Te’o Net Worth

Manti Te’o’s estimated net worth is around $3.5 million as of 2026.

His wealth mainly comes from:

• NFL contracts
• Football salary
• Endorsement deals
• Media appearances
• Broadcasting opportunities

Te’o has managed to earn approximately $10.4 million from his salary during his NFL career before any taxes or cost are deducted from his earnings.

Manti Te’o Career Earnings Breakdown

Salary Earnings in NFL

Manti joined the NFL after being drafted by San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

His career earnings include:

Source	Estimated Earnings
NFL Contracts	$10.4 Million+
Endorsements & Partnerships	Additional Income
Media Work	Post-NFL Earnings

Manti Te’o Age, Early Life and Family Background

Manti Te’o was born on January 26, 1991, in Laie, Hawaii. As of 2026, he is 35 years old.

He was raised in a tight-knit Samoan family and fell in love with football in his early days. The family had an important influence on his upbringing, discipline, and sports career.

Te’oi attended Punahou School in Honolulu, becoming one of the best high school football players in the country.

Due to his excellent performance on the field, he got noticed around the nation and received scholarship offers from many leading colleges.

College Football Career at Notre Dame

Manti Te’o played college football for Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2009 to 2012.

While playing at Notre Dame, he became one of the most decorated defensive players in the history of college football.

Major College Achievements

Some of his achievements include:

• Unanimous All-American
• Maxwell Award
• Walter Camp Award
• Butkus Award
• Lombardi Award
• Chuck Bednarik Award
• Lott Trophy
• Heisman Trophy finalist

In 2012, Te’o was a leader of Notre Dame’s defensive team which had an unbeaten season in the regular season and he became one of the best linebackers in the country.

Manti Te’o NFL Career

San Diego Chargers

Manti Te’o was drafted into the NFL by the San Diego Chargers as the 38th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

He started his professional career playing for the Chargers where he grew into an effective linebacker.

New Orleans Saints

From the Chargers, Manti moved to the New Orleans Saints team.

This was where he played some of his best games as a professional player in the NFL.

Chicago Bears

Later on, he signed with the Chicago Bears in his professional football career.

He played his last game in the NFL in 2020 before retiring from the game.

Manti Te’o NFL Statistics

During his NFL career, Te’o recorded:

Category	Stats
Games Played	62
Total Tackles	307
Sacks	1.5
Interceptions	2

Manti Te’o Wife: Who Is Jovi Nicole Engbino?

Manti Te’o is married to Jovi Nicole Engbino, a fitness professional and healthcare worker.

The marriage took place in 2020. As a result, the couple managed to create their private family life that is not associated with the media.

Jovi supported her husband during the transition from being a professional football player to a media personality.

Manti Te’о Family Life

Currently, Manti Te’о and Jovi Nicole Engbino have two kids.

• Hiromi “Hiro” Te’o: Their firstborn is a daughter born on August 12, 2021.
• Kyro Aumua Te’o: Their second kid is a son who was born on January 16, 2023.

After the retirement from the game, Te’о is busy with:

• Family life
• Fatherhood
• Personal development
• Media work

Te’о regularly shares his thoughts about creating a positive environment for the sake of his kids.

Manti Te’o and the Catfishing Controversy

In 2012, Manti Te’о took part in one of the most controversial events in the history of sports.

Being at senior year at Notre Dame, Te’о thought that he had a girlfriend by the name of Lennay Kekua, who, in reality, turned out to be a fictionally created identity using online deception.

This scandal was covered in the media on a massive scale and affected both Te’о’s image and the process of entering the NFL draft. Later the scandal was explored in the Netflix documentary film:

“Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.”

Te’о admitted that this was a very hard situation, but this also became an important step in his personal development and healing.

Manti Te’о Life After Football

Having retired from professional football, Te’о didn’t leave the sport completely.

The activities that he has been engaged in after NFL include:

• NFL media appearances
• Football analysis
• Public speaking
• Experience sharing

Having joined NFL Network as a football analyst, Te’о still contributes to the football community.

Lifestyle and Investments

Throughout and after his stint with the NFL, Te’o made sure to create financial security for himself.

The following have been his sources of income:

• Money from the NFL
• Invesment
• Media
• Branding

Te’o is quite different from other pro sports personalities in that he leads a life away from media attention and spends time with his family and developing himself.

Interesting Facts about Manti Te’o

• Manti Te’o was born in Hawaii.
• He was among the most decorated linebacker players at Notre Dame College.
• Second runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2012.
• Selected 38th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
• Made over $10 million during his NFL career.
• His story was captured in a Netflix documentary.
• He later turned into an NFL analyst.

Conclusion

The story of Manti Te’o is one of the most unique ones in the world of football. From being a college football sensation at Notre Dame University to earning a fortune in the NFL, the football career of Manti Te’o has been riddled with success and hardship.

With a net worth of Manti Te’o estimated at $3.5 million, Manti Te’o has managed to transition himself from being a professional footballer to media sensation while taking care of his own family and development.

Even amidst all the problems, Te’o is still highly regarded for his success in football as well as his determination in moving on from controversies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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