Isaiah Pola-Mao

Isaiah Pola-Mao's Biography

Isaiah Pola-Mao, the professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), has a rich sporting background that has shaped and catapulted him into his professional career. Born on June 30, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona, Pola-Mao’s first encounter with organized sports was within the gates of Mountain Pointe High School. Here, he not only explored football, but he also excelled in basketball and track. His all-around sporting prowess positioned him as a promising athlete from an early age.

Pola-Mao’s athleticism shone brighter when he embraced football. As a sophomore, he emerged as a formidable defensive asset, achieving first-team USA Today All-Arizona honors by recording significant scores-35 tackles and seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. His junior year saw him maintain the same energy and zeal, once again bagging first-team All-Arizona honors. This former Mountain Pointe High School student was no ordinary player; Pola-Mao recorded 98 tackles and four interceptions on defense, complementing his fantastic performance with 27 pass receptions on offense.

In his senior year, Pola-Mao asserted his prominence on the field. He was named the PrepStar All-American, Max Preps first-team All-America, USA Today All-Arizona, and the All-East Valley Tribune Defensive Player of the Year. His statistics were impressive, recording 100 tackles and 10 interceptions. Not letting his offensive side lag behind, he returned three picks for scores and registered 646 receiving yards on 28 catches, scoring nine touchdowns offensively.

January 2017 saw Isaiah Pola-Mao declare his commitment to the University of Southern California (USC). Even as he redshirted in his freshman year due to a shoulder injury, his determination did not wane. Despite the setback, he continued to evolve. In his following year, he played as a starting player for two games before being sideline due to reinjury. His performance was nevertheless laudable, recording eight tackles and a forced fumble.

His subsequent year saw Pola-Mao, rising as the starting free safety of USC. His on-field performance of 73 tackles and a team-high of four interceptions in 13 games played, further amplified his prowess. Following an impressive streak of interceptions in three consecutive games, a feat unseen at USC in over 20 years, he bagged the USC co-Defensive Perimeter Player of the Year.

In his following year, COVID-19 disrupted the normal sporting rhythm. Despite this, Pola-Mao appeared in all six games, making his mark with 40 tackles and 2.5 for-loss. He further had a team-leading five passes defended and three fumbles recovered, and one interception in his name. His efforts led him to be named the second-team All-Pac-12 Conference by the Associated Press (AP) and a third-team choice by Pro Football Focus.

The subsequent year, Pola-Mao returned for the final season. He started at free safety during the year, playing in 11 games, nine as a starter, and making 57 tackles. He finished his college career with 178 tackles, five interceptions, eight passes defended, four fumbles recovered, and one forced in 32 games played.

After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft, Pola-Mao was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. Despite this initial setback, he was determined to forge ahead. His willpower saw him emerge as one of the four undrafted rookies to make the Raiders’ final roster. Though he was waived after appearing in two games, he was re-signed to the practice squad and made it back onto the active roster on November 9.

Crucially, Pola-Mao also carries a rich sporting heritage. He is a nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. This, combined with his fighting spirit and uncanny ability to seize opportunities, has shaped Isaiah Pola-Mao’s journey. From his humble beginnings in Phoenix, Arizona, to his status as a respected professional in the NFL, Pola-Mao represents an inspiring tale of hard work, resilience, and passion for the sport.