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D. J. Tialavea

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D.J. Tialavea
refer to caption
D. J. Tialavea in 2017
Utah State Aggies
Position:Tight ends coach
Personal information
Born: (1991-07-27) July 27, 1991 (age 33)
West Jordan, Utah
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:West Jordan (UT)
College:Utah State
Undrafted:2014
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Utah State (2020)
    Graduate assistant
  • Utah State (2021–present)
    Tight ends coach
Career NFL statistics
Games played:2
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:1
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Donald Tialavea Jr.[1] (born July 27, 1991) is a former American football tight end who is currently a tight ends coach for Utah State. He played college football at Utah State University. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Tialavea was formerly a tight end prior to switching positions before the 2017 NFL season.

Early years

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Tialavea attended West Jordan High School in West Jordan, Utah. During his high school football career, he also played on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner in football, Tialavea was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball.[2]

College career

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Tialavea appeared in 40 games for the Utah State Aggies. He ended his college career with 198 receiving yards and five touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

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Jacksonville Jaguars

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Tialavea was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.[3] He was released on May 12, 2014.[4]

Buffalo Bills

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After being released by the Jaguars, Tialavea was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 2, 2014.[3] He was released by the Bills on September 30, 2014.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

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Tialavea was signed to the Falcons' practice squad on November 24, 2015.[6] After spending almost two seasons on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on December 22, 2016.[7] In his NFL debut two days later against the Carolina Panthers, Tialavea caught a touchdown for his only reception of the day.[8]

Tialavea was inactive for the Falcons' 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.[9][10]

On September 1, 2017, Tialavea was released by the Falcons.[11]

Chicago Bears

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On September 20, 2017, Tialavea was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[12] He was released on September 26, 2017.[13] He was re-signed on December 27, 2017.[14]

Coaching career

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Utah State

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In 2020, Tialavea joined the coaching staff at his alma mater, Utah State, as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends. Head Coach Gary Andersen was fired mid-season that year. The following January, Tialavea was promoted to tight ends coach by newly hired head coach Blake Anderson.[15]

Personal life

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D.J.'s parents are Don and Tami Tialavea. He has two sisters. Tialavea graduated from Utah State with a degree in sports management in 2013, and then a master's degree in education in 2019, also from Utah State.[15] D.J. is also an Eagle Scout.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". thedontialaveafoundation.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Utah State Bio". utahstateaggies.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "TE D.J. Tialavea to Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Jaguars release 6, including G Will Rackley". sandiegouniontribune.com. May 12, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. ^ "TE Jamie Childers signed to Bills Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  6. ^ "Tialavea Signed to Practice Squad, Jensen Waived". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  7. ^ Jackson, Curtis. "Falcons Waive Therezie, Goodman; Promote Keyes, Tialavea". atlantafalcons.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Tialavea emerges as unlikely hero for Falcons - Philadelphia Herald". www.philadelphiaherald.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Weaver, Tim (February 5, 2017). "Falcons vs. Patriots: Final inactives for Super Bowl LI". USA Today. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  10. ^ "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  11. ^ Conway, Kelsey (September 1, 2017). "2017 Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Tracker: Deadline To 53 Is 4 P.M. ET On Saturday". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Report: D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247sports.com. September 20, 2017.
  13. ^ Gantt, Darin (September 26, 2017). "Bears add two to practice squad, bringing back Tre McBride". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  14. ^ "D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247Sports.com. December 27, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "DJ Tialavea Named Tight Ends Coach at Utah State". utahstateaggies.com. Utah State University SID. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Wendell, Bryan (January 27, 2017). "Atlanta Falcons tight end D.J. Tialavea is an Eagle Scout. On January 3, 2018, Tialavea married former Gonzaga and BYU-Hawaii volleyball player Kalistina Takau". Bryan on Scouting. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
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