Darius Muasau Bio
Darius Muasau (born February 10, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He plays the position of linebacker, wears jersey number 53, and stands 6 feet 0 inches tall at 234 pounds. Muasau played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the UCLA Bruins before entering the professional ranks.
A native of San Diego, California, who grew up in Hawaii, Muasau developed into one of the most productive tacklers in the Mountain West Conference before transferring to UCLA. He was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and quickly earned a role on defense, recording an interception in his NFL debut against the Minnesota Vikings.
Early Life and Background
Darius Muasau was born on February 10, 2001, in San Diego, California, and later relocated to Hawaii during his youth. He attended Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii, where he played both linebacker and running back for the school football team. As a senior, his performances earned him a place on the USA Today All-USA Hawaii Football Second Team.
Despite playing in a competitive football environment in Hawaii, Muasau received only one Division I FBS scholarship offer, and he committed to play college football at the University of Hawaii. That single opportunity launched his rise from a relatively underrecruited high school prospect to a starting linebacker at the FBS level within his first college season.
Path to American Football
Muasau’s path to professional football began in earnest when he arrived at the University of Hawaii in 2019. He began his freshman year as a backup linebacker and a contributor on special teams, but a spate of injuries to the Rainbow Warriors’ linebacking group forced him into early action. In his first career start against rival Fresno State, he led the team in total tackles and recovered a key onside kick that set up the game-tying drive.
Across his three seasons at Hawaii, Muasau established himself as a tackling machine, leading the team in tackles in 2020 and adding 108 total tackles, seven sacks, and five forced fumbles in 2021. After the 2021 season, he announced his entry into the transfer portal on December 28, 2021, and on January 1, 2022, he revealed on social media that he would transfer to UCLA to compete in the Pac-12 Conference.
Darius Muasau Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Muasau’s first college season in 2019 was a trial by fire. Although he started the year as a depth linebacker and special teamer, the Hawaii defense needed him quickly, and his aggressive style translated immediately to the college level. His emergence as a tackling leader helped stabilize the Rainbow Warriors’ front seven during a period of injuries.
Across his Hawaii tenure, Muasau earned back-to-back First-team All-Mountain West honors in 2020 and 2021. He was also a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award and was named the most outstanding defensive player of the 2020 New Mexico Bowl after recording nine tackles, one sack, and an interception.
UCLA Bruins (2022–2023)
After transferring to UCLA, Muasau stepped into a more prominent role within the Bruins’ defense in the Pac-12 Conference. His experience as a tackling leader at Hawaii carried over, and he became a consistent presence for UCLA over two seasons in Westwood.
Following the 2023 campaign, Muasau was recognized with Second-team All-Pac-12 honors for his work with the Bruins. His three years as a starter between Hawaii and UCLA prepared him for the next step, as he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
New York Giants Era (2024–Present)
The New York Giants selected Muasau in the sixth round, 183rd overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impression, intercepting a pass in his NFL debut against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 of the 2024 season. Across his rookie campaign, he appeared in 15 games with seven starts, recording one interception, one pass deflection, and 55 combined tackles.
Muasau returned for the 2025 season and opened the year as one of New York’s starting linebackers. On November 8, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve because of an ankle injury suffered in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers. He was later activated on December 13, ahead of the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Driving Style and Strengths
Muasau’s game is built on physicality, instincts, and run-defense reliability. His college track record as one of the nation’s leading tacklers at Hawaii demonstrated an ability to read plays quickly and finish tackles in traffic, traits that translated directly into a starting role as a rookie with the Giants.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Muasau’s career came in his NFL debut, when he intercepted a pass against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 of the 2024 season. Earlier in his career, he earned Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors at the 2020 New Mexico Bowl and was twice named First-team All-Mountain West at Hawaii.
Darius Muasau Career Wins
Muasau’s career is still in its early stages, but he has already built a resume of measurable production at both the college and professional levels. Through the early portion of the 2025 NFL season, his career NFL statistics include 106 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 2 pass deflections, as logged by official league statistics.
New York Giants Highlights
During his rookie season with the New York Giants in 2024, Muasau appeared in 15 games and made seven starts, recording 55 combined tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection. His interception in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings marked a memorable debut, and he continued to grow into a starting linebacker role into 2025 before an ankle injury briefly interrupted his season.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Muasau was a two-time First-team All-Mountain West selection (2020, 2021) and a Second-team All-Pac-12 honoree (2023). He was also named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2020 New Mexico Bowl and finished as a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
Darius Muasau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Darius Muasau was born and raised in a family with strong ties to football. His younger brother, Sergio Muasau, is an offensive lineman at the University of Hawaii, continuing the family’s involvement in the sport at the collegiate level.
Personal Life
Muasau, who grew up between San Diego, California, and Mililani, Hawaii, continues to focus on his NFL career with the New York Giants. Information about his marital status and personal residence is not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Darius Muasau entered the 2025 NFL season as one of the New York Giants’ starting linebackers, a sign of the team’s confidence in his development after a productive rookie campaign. Through the early weeks of the year, he continued to contribute on defense in a featured role.
On November 8, 2025, Muasau was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers. The Giants activated him on December 13, ahead of their Week 15 matchup against the Washington Commanders, signaling a return to defensive duties late in the season.
With his activation, Muasau had an opportunity to reestablish himself in the lineup and continue building on the production he showed during his rookie year. His long-term outlook with the Giants remained tied to his ability to stay healthy and maintain his role as a starting linebacker in the years ahead.