Brandon Pili Bio
Brandon Pili is an American professional football nose tackle who plays for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League. Born on April 2, 1999, in Anchorage, Alaska, he played college football at the University of Southern California before launching his NFL career. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 334 lb (151 kg), Pili is recognized for his size and strength on the defensive line. After beginning his professional career with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023, he joined the Seahawks in 2024 and is a Super Bowl champion.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Pili was born on April 2, 1999, the eldest of seven children. His father had moved to Alaska from Hawaii in 1990, while his mother grew up in Utqiagvik, Alaska, the northernmost settlement in the United States. Pili spent the first years of his life in Utqiagvik before his family relocated to Anchorage.
He grew up playing several sports and attended Dimond High School in Anchorage, where he played football until the first game of his senior season. Looking to finish his high school career in a new setting, Pili transferred to Westview High School in Portland, Oregon. He had received little attention from college football programs while at Dimond, but after transferring to Westview he drew a significant wave of offers and ultimately committed to play for the USC Trojans.
Path to American Football
At USC, Pili developed into a durable interior defender across a six-year college career. He weighed 345 pounds as a freshman and saw significant playing time, appearing in nine games with two starts and recording 14 tackles plus a blocked field goal. The following season, he played in all 12 games, started two, and added 12 tackles with a sack.
As a junior in 2019, Pili posted 18 tackles, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble across 13 games. During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, he played four games and recorded five tackles. Pili was expected to take on a larger role in 2021 but tore his Achilles tendon before the season began and missed the entire year, before returning for a productive senior season in 2022 with a career-high 25 tackles.
Brandon Pili Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Brandon Pili spent his full college career at the University of Southern California, where he appeared in 52 games for the Trojans from 2017 through 2022. Across those seasons, he accumulated 74 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and four sacks while serving as a rotational defensive tackle. His freshman campaign offered an early glimpse of his run-stopping ability, and he added a blocked field goal to his resume that year.
After missing the 2021 season with an Achilles injury, Pili returned in 2022 in noticeably better condition, having trimmed his weight to around 315 pounds. He played 14 games as a senior, started more frequently, and set a career high with 25 tackles to go with a sack and a pass breakup. His combination of size, leverage, and gap discipline made him a reliable interior presence for the Trojans.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Brandon Pili signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. He made the team’s final roster, becoming the first Alaskan to appear on an NFL roster since 2014. Pili was waived on November 4 and re-signed to Miami’s practice squad three days later, then signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins on January 15, 2024.
On November 9, 2024, Pili was waived by the Dolphins. Two days later, on November 11, 2024, he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, was waived five days later, and was re-signed to the practice squad. He earned a Super Bowl championship ring as a member of the Seahawks organization, a career-defining milestone for the young defensive lineman.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2024–Present)
Brandon Pili re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year, $2 million contract on March 16, 2026, solidifying his place on the team’s defensive front. He was waived on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, then promoted back to the active roster on October 9, 2025. His steady trajectory through the practice squad and back onto the active roster reflects his value within the Seahawks organization.
Wearing jersey number 95, Pili has continued to contribute as a depth nose tackle and special teams presence. As of the 2025 season, he had recorded 16 total tackles in his NFL career. His combination of size, experience, and familiarity with the Seahawks’ system has positioned him as a reliable rotational piece on the defensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brandon Pili is a Super Bowl champion as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, having been part of the roster that won Super Bowl LX. He is also notable as the first Alaskan to be on an NFL roster since 2014, a milestone that highlighted the growing pipeline of football talent from his home state. His recovery from a torn Achilles tendon to play a full senior season at USC stands out as a defining moment of perseverance in his career.
Brandon Pili Career Wins
Brandon Pili’s most prominent team achievement is his Super Bowl championship with the Seattle Seahawks. As a rotational nose tackle, he has contributed to one of the league’s most respected defensive fronts while building a foundation for a long NFL career.
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
Since joining the Seattle Seahawks organization in November 2024, Brandon Pili has added a Super Bowl championship to his resume. He has been active on the practice squad and active roster, contributing to the team’s defensive rotation and special teams units.
Other Wins & Performances
Earlier in his career, Brandon Pili earned recognition as the first Alaskan to be on an NFL roster since 2014 after making the Miami Dolphins’ final roster in 2023. He also delivered a productive senior season at USC in 2022, setting a career high with 25 tackles while helping anchor the Trojans’ interior defense.
Brandon Pili Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brandon Pili is the eldest of seven children. His father had moved to Alaska from Hawaii in 1990, while his mother grew up in Utqiagvik, Alaska, the northernmost community in the United States. The family later settled in Anchorage, where Pili attended Dimond High School before transferring to Westview High School in Portland, Oregon.
Personal Life
Brandon Pili’s younger sister, Alissa, plays basketball for the Geelong Venom of the Women’s National Basketball League. Pili’s family roots in both Hawaii and Alaska have shaped his identity and remain an important part of his personal story.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Pili entered the 2025 season looking to build on his role with the Seattle Seahawks. He was waived on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, re-signed to the practice squad the following day, and was promoted to the active roster on October 9, 2025. His ability to move between the practice squad and active roster reflected the Seahawks’ confidence in his development.
As a rotational nose tackle and special teams contributor, Pili provided depth on the defensive line throughout the season. Through the 2025 season he had recorded 16 total tackles in his NFL career, a modest but meaningful contribution given his journeyman path through multiple transactions. His work on the practice squad and special teams units helped reinforce the team’s defensive rotation.
Brandon Pili re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year, $2 million contract on March 16, 2026, signaling the team’s commitment to keeping him in the fold. Looking ahead, Pili is positioned to compete for a larger defensive role while continuing to provide valuable depth at nose tackle.
