Netane Muti

Netane Muti Bio

Netane Muti is a Tongan professional American football guard who has competed in the National Football League since being selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Born on 27 March 1999 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, Muti grew up in Wahiawa, Hawaii, and developed his football skills at Leilehua High School before playing collegiately for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Denver Broncos selected Muti in the sixth round with the 181st overall pick in 2020. Throughout his professional career, Muti has played for the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Detroit Lions. His career has been notably affected by injuries, including multiple season-ending Achilles and foot injuries that have limited his playing time, but he has continued to pursue opportunities at the professional level.

Early Life and Background

Muti was born and raised in Tonga, where he first learned to play rugby during his childhood. He later moved to Wahiawa, Hawaii, with his family and began playing football in the islands. At Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Muti played as a two-way lineman, demonstrating his versatility and physical abilities on both sides of the ball. His high school career established him as a promising prospect, though he was not heavily recruited coming out of high school despite his obvious talent.

Despite receiving limited attention from major college programs, Muti originally committed to play for his home state school, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, signing a letter of intent on National Signing Day. However, his application to the University of Hawaiʻi was put on hold due to a test score issue. After requesting and receiving a release from his commitment, Muti signed with Fresno State University instead, setting the stage for his collegiate football career.

Path to American Football

Muti arrived at Fresno State University in 2016 with high expectations. He redshirted during his first season with the program after suffering an Achilles injury during preseason activities. This early setback began a pattern of injuries that would challenge his college career. Despite the injury, the coaching staff remained patient with the talented young lineman as he worked toward full recovery.

In 2017, as a redshirt freshman, Muti bounced back strongly by starting all 14 games for the Bulldogs. His performance was exceptional, as part of an offensive line that ranked third in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss allowed. For his standout play, Muti earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference honors, validating his potential as a professional prospect. The success of that season appeared to signal the beginning of a breakout collegiate career.

Netane Muti Career

College Career at Fresno State (2016–2019)

Muti’s college career was plagued by serious injuries that dramatically limited his playing time. After his impressive 2017 season, the 2018 campaign was cut short when he suffered another Achilles injury in the third game of the season. The following year, in 2019, Muti again faced devastating injury news when a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury forced him to miss the final nine games of the year. Despite these challenges, he showed enough talent when healthy to warrant professional attention.

In January 2020, Muti made the difficult decision to forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft. Remarkably, he had played only five full games over the previous two seasons due to his injuries. At the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Muti received medical clearance from doctors and delivered an impressive performance, recording the highest bench press total among all participants at the event. His strong showing at the combine helped solidify his draft stock despite the injury concerns.

Denver Broncos Era (2020–2022)

The Denver Broncos selected Muti with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, betting on his talent while acknowledging his injury history. He reported to training camp and was immediately placed on the active/non-football injury list on July 28, 2020. Six days later, the team moved him to the active roster, signaling their confidence in his recovery. Muti spent his rookie season adapting to the professional level while continuing to rehab and develop his skills.

Throughout his time with the Broncos, Muti struggled to secure a consistent role due to injuries and the competitive nature of the offensive line position. On August 30, 2022, the Broncos waived Muti, but he quickly joined the practice squad the following day, maintaining his connection to the organization. This period represented a challenging transition as he worked to establish himself in the league.

Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2023)

On December 13, 2022, Muti received an opportunity when the Las Vegas Raiders signed him away from the Broncos practice squad. The move to a division rival presented a fresh start and the chance to compete for a roster spot with a new team. Muti demonstrated enough during his limited time with the Raiders to earn a contract extension, re-signing with the team on March 9, 2023.

However, his tenure with the Raiders proved short-lived. He was waived on August 29, 2023, during final roster cuts before the regular season began. The team re-signed him to the practice squad, but when the season concluded, Muti was not included among the players receiving reserve/future contracts. He became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract, once again facing an uncertain future in the NFL.

Detroit Lions (2024–Present)

Muti found another opportunity when he signed a reserve/future contract with the Detroit Lions on February 6, 2024. This signing represented a new chapter in his career with an organization known for developing young talent. He reported to training camp with the Lions and competed for a spot on the offensive line depth chart during the 2024 offseason program and preseason.

Unfortunately, Muti’s injury troubles continued when the Lions placed him on injured reserve on August 1, 2024, ending his season before it could begin. The following year, on August 26, 2025, the Lions released Muti as part of their final roster reductions. He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 5, 2025, demonstrating the team’s continued interest in his potential. Muti was released again on December 1, 2025, leaving his status for the remainder of the season uncertain.

Playing Style and Strengths

Muti is a physical offensive guard who possesses the size and strength necessary to compete at the NFL level. His 6-foot-3-inch, 325-pound frame allows him to match up effectively against larger defensive linemen. His bench press performance at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where he posted the highest total among all participants, highlighted his upper-body strength. Despite the injuries that have interrupted his career, Muti has shown the ability to be a reliable starter when healthy, as evidenced by his 14-game starting streak at Fresno State in 2017.

Notable Challenges and Milestones

The most significant narrative of Muti’s football career has been his battle against serious injuries. Multiple Achilles tears and a Lisfranc foot injury have tested his resilience and determination to continue pursuing his NFL dreams. Despite these obstacles, he has managed to appear in 22 NFL games and start 4 throughout his professional career. His ability to overcome adversity and continue competing at the professional level represents a notable achievement in itself, as many players with similar injury histories are unable to maintain their careers.

Netane Muti Career Wins

Throughout his football career, Muti has achieved notable success at both the collegiate and professional levels. His accomplishments include conference honors in college and sustained playing time at the NFL level despite significant injury challenges.

Fresno State Bulldogs Highlights

During his time at Fresno State, Muti established himself as one of the Mountain West Conference’s top offensive linemen before injuries derailed his career. In his standout 2017 season, he started all 14 games and earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference honors. His performance helped the Bulldogs’ offensive line rank third nationally in limiting sacks and tackles for loss. Muti finished his collegiate career with significant production despite only playing five full games over his final two seasons due to injury.

Professional Career Summary

At the professional level, Muti has appeared in 22 NFL games with 4 starts across his time with the Broncos, Raiders, and Lions. His professional achievements reflect his persistence in continuing his football career despite numerous setbacks. The highlight of his pre-draft process remains his impressive bench press performance at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where he led all participants in the event.

Netane Muti Family

Family Background and Early Influences

Muti was born and raised in Tonga, where he grew up immersed in the sporting culture of the Pacific Island nation. During his childhood in Tonga, he learned to play rugby, which helped develop his physical abilities and competitive mindset before he transitioned to American football. His upbringing in Tonga provided him with a strong foundation in athletic competition and discipline that would serve him well in his later football career.

Personal Life

After his formative years in Tonga, Muti relocated to Wahiawa, Hawaii, with his family, where he would begin his journey in American football. His transition from rugby to football at Leilehua High School marked a pivotal moment in his athletic development. Muti continues to maintain ties to both Tonga and Hawaii, representing his multicultural background throughout his professional career. He remains active on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account while pursuing his goals in the NFL.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season began with Muti on the Detroit Lions roster, but his tenure with the team proved turbulent. He was released by the Lions on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts before the regular season, indicating that he had not secured a permanent roster spot. However, the organization maintained interest in his abilities and re-signed him to the practice squad on November 5, 2025, providing him with an opportunity to remain with the team and continue developing his skills.

Mut’s time on the Lions practice squad was short-lived, as he was released again on December 1, 2025. This pattern of release and re-signing reflects the challenging nature of maintaining an NFL roster spot as a reserve player with an extensive injury history. Despite these difficulties, his ability to earn practice squad opportunities demonstrates that NFL teams continue to see value in his potential as an offensive lineman.

Looking ahead, Muti’s future in professional football will depend largely on his ability to stay healthy and demonstrate consistent performance during offseason programs and training camps. At 26 years old, he still has time to establish himself as a reliable NFL player if he can overcome the injury challenges that have plagued his career thus far. Teams seeking depth along their offensive line may view him as a low-risk investment with significant upside if he can return to full health and recapture the form he showed at Fresno State before his injuries.