Eku Leota Bio
Eku Leota is a Samoan-American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 11, 1999, in Falefā, Samoa, he moved to Asheville, North Carolina at the age of 7. Leota played college football at Northwestern University before transferring to Auburn University, where he established himself as a disruptive pass rusher. Despite going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, he signed with the Carolina Panthers and has since bounced between multiple NFL franchises while continuing to pursue his professional football career.
Early Life and Background
Eku Leota was born in Falefā, a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. At the age of 7, he relocated with his family to Asheville, North Carolina, in the United States. The transition from Samoa to western North Carolina presented cultural and environmental adjustments for the young athlete, but he quickly adapted to his new surroundings. His upbringing in Samoa, where rugby and physical sports are deeply ingrained in the culture, likely contributed to his natural athletic abilities.
Leota attended Asheville High School in Asheville, North Carolina. During his high school years, he developed as a football player while balancing academics and athletics. His combination of size, speed, and football instincts caught the attention of college recruiters, setting the stage for his collegiate career. The experience of growing up between two distinct cultures, Samoan and American, would later influence his approach to the sport and his professional career.
Path to American Football
After graduating from Asheville High School, Leota received scholarship offers from multiple college programs. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, joining the Northwestern Wildcats football program in 2018. Leota redshirted his true freshman season, using that year to adapt to the pace and demands of Division I college football while refining his technique as a defensive end.
The coaching staff and development program at Northwestern played a significant role in shaping Leota into a more complete player. He showed promise immediately upon returning from his redshirt season, recording 2.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman. His performance continued to improve, and during his redshirt sophomore season in 2020, Leota earned third-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. That breakthrough season featured his most productive collegiate performance to that point, establishing him as a legitimate NFL prospect.
Following the 2020 season, Leota entered the NCAA transfer portal, seeking a new opportunity. He ultimately transferred to Auburn University to join the Auburn Tigers for the 2021 season. The move to the Southeastern Conference represented a significant step up in competition. At Auburn, Leota immediately made an impact, recording 23 tackles with 10 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in his first season with the program. His performance demonstrated his ability to be a difference-maker at the line of scrimmage against high-level competition.
Eku Leota Career
Early Career (2023)
Despite projecting as a potential mid-to-late round draft pick, Eku Leota went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. His lack of draft selection did not diminish his determination to earn a spot on an NFL roster. On April 29, 2023, immediately after the draft concluded, Leota signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers saw potential in his combination of size, athleticism, and college production as a pass rusher.
Leota’s tenure with the Panthers began with a typical roster battle during training camp. On August 29, 2023, he was waived during final roster cuts, a common occurrence for undrafted players trying to earn spots on NFL teams. However, the Panthers immediately signed him to their practice squad the following day, allowing him to remain with the organization and continue developing. Leota impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a promotion to the active roster on November 13, 2023, marking his official entry into NFL regular-season play.
League Journey (2024–2025)
The 2024 season brought instability to Leota’s NFL career. On September 17, 2024, the Panthers waived Leota from their active roster, only to re-sign him to the practice squad. This pattern continued when he was released again on September 24, 2024, reflecting the roster fluctuations common among depth players in the league. The experience tested his resilience and commitment to maintaining his professional career.
On October 1, 2024, Leota signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, joining one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. The opportunity with the Steelers provided a fresh start and access to their renowned defensive development program. He signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh on January 14, 2025, indicating the team’s interest in his long-term potential. However, on August 26, 2025, Leota was waived by the Steelers as part of final roster cuts, continuing his journeyman path through the league.
Leota signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad on September 2, 2025. He appeared in three games with New Orleans as a practice squad elevation, recording one tackle during his brief stint. On November 25, 2025, the Saints waived Leota, marking another transition in his still-evolving NFL career.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On December 2, 2025, Leota signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, providing him with yet another opportunity to prove himself at the NFL level. The Cardinals, a franchise in the midst of rebuilding with young talent, offered a different environment for his continued development. Leota signed a reserve/future contract with Arizona on January 5, 2026, securing his spot on the roster heading into the 2026 season.
As a member of the Cardinals, Leota continues to work toward establishing himself as a reliable contributor at the linebacker position. His journey through multiple organizations has provided him with diverse experience in different defensive schemes and locker room cultures. The Cardinals coaching staff values his size, motor, and ability to pressure the quarterback, characteristics that align with the modern NFL linebacker profile.
Playing Style and Strengths
Eku Leota possesses the prototypical size for an NFL linebacker at 6 feet 4 inches and 257 pounds. His background as a defensive end translates well to the linebacker position, where his ability to rush the passer remains his most valuable asset. Leota’s explosiveness off the line of scrimmage allows him to penetrate backfields and disrupt opposing passing games. His experience playing in both the Big Ten and SEC conferences prepared him for the physicality and speed of professional football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Leota’s college career included several memorable performances, most notably his 7-sack season at Auburn in 2021. His third-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2020 represented the peak of his collegiate accomplishments. On the professional level, his November 2023 promotion from the Panthers practice squad to the active roster marked his first regular-season NFL experience. Despite the roster instability that followed, his persistence in remaining in the league demonstrates his determination to succeed at the highest level of football.
Eku Leota Career Statistics
Through the 2025 NFL season, Eku Leota has appeared in games with three different franchises while continuing to develop his professional career. His limited game action reflects the challenges faced by undrafted players trying to earn consistent roles on NFL rosters.
Professional Career Highlights
Leota’s professional career has been defined by resilience and adaptability rather than individual accolades. His journey from undrafted free agent to multi-team journeyman exemplifies the difficult path many players face in establishing NFL careers. His three appearances with the New Orleans Saints and subsequent signing with the Arizona Cardinals represent his continued efforts to find a permanent home in the league. As of the 2025 season, he has recorded 10 total tackles and 1 sack across his professional appearances.
College Career Summary
At Northwestern, Leota developed into an All-Big Ten performer before transferring to Auburn, where he recorded 7 sacks in his first season with the Tigers. His 10 career tackles for loss at Auburn demonstrated his ability to affect games beyond just sacks. The experience gained from playing in two major conferences provided Leota with a diverse skill set that he continues to draw upon in his professional career.
Eku Leota Family
Family Background
Eku Leota was born to Samoan parents in Falefā, Samoa, before relocating to Asheville, North Carolina with his family at the age of 7. His Samoan heritage connects him to a culture with deep roots in physical athletics, particularly rugby and football. Samoan players are disproportionately represented in American football at all levels, and Leota represents the continuation of that tradition. Details about his parents, siblings, or extended family are not publicly available.
Personal Life
Leota maintains his residence in Asheville, North Carolina, the city where he spent his formative years after moving from Samoa. He is active on social media platforms, connecting with fans through Instagram and X. Information about a spouse or children has not been made public, and Leota maintains a relatively private personal life away from the football field. His focus appears centered on continuing to develop his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked a year of significant transitions for Eku Leota. After beginning the year with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, he experienced roster moves that led him to the New Orleans Saints and ultimately to the Arizona Cardinals. This nomadic path through multiple franchises tested his mental resilience and forced him to adapt quickly to different defensive schemes and coaching philosophies. Leota appeared in three games with the Saints, recording one tackle during his limited action.
His signing with the Arizona Cardinals on December 2, 2025, provided a sense of stability heading into the offseason. The Cardinals’ decision to sign him to a reserve/future contract on January 5, 2026, indicated their interest in evaluating him further during training camp. Leota entered the 2026 offseason with a clearer path to earning a roster spot, having established a connection with the Cardinals’ coaching staff during his brief initial tenure.
The outlook for Leota in 2026 focuses on consistency and health. After battling through injuries during his college career, including a season-ending pectoral injury at Auburn in 2022, remaining healthy throughout an NFL season represents a key milestone. The Cardinals’ rebuilding effort offers an opportunity for players like Leota to earn expanded roles if they demonstrate consistency in practices and preseason games. His ability to pressure the quarterback and contribute on special teams will determine whether he can solidify a permanent spot on an NFL roster.