Marist Liufau Bio
Marist Lealofi Liufau (born February 9, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and listed at 238 lb (108 kg), he plays the inside linebacker position wearing jersey number 35. Liufau played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before being selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Marist Lealofi Liufau was born on February 9, 2001, in Kalihi, Hawaii, a working-class neighborhood on the island of Oahu. Growing up in the islands, he was surrounded by a deep Polynesian football culture that has produced generations of NFL talent from the state.
Liufau attended Punahou School in Honolulu, one of Hawaii’s most storied private schools and the alma mater of golf legend Arnold Palmer and former President Barack Obama. At Punahou, he developed into a highly regarded linebacker prospect, and his senior season drew national attention. He was selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl, an all-star game that highlights the top high school football talent of Polynesian heritage across the United States.
Following the Polynesian Bowl, Liufau committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football, choosing the Fighting Irish over other scholarship offers. His decision to leave Hawaii for South Bend, Indiana, marked the start of his path toward the NFL.
Path to American Football
Liufau entered Notre Dame as part of the 2019 recruiting class and immediately began adjusting to the demands of a top-tier college football program. Playing for the Fighting Irish gave him the chance to compete at the highest level of college football while continuing to grow as a linebacker.
Over five seasons with the program, Liufau worked his way from a limited freshman role into a full-time starting position, learning under defensive coordinators and position coaches who helped refine his instincts, run fits, and pass-coverage responsibilities. He credited the Notre Dame defense’s tradition for shaping his preparation and approach to the game.
Marist Liufau Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
In his first season at Notre Dame in 2019, Liufau appeared in four games as a true freshman, gaining valuable experience behind established veterans at the linebacker position. He used the season to learn the defensive scheme and build the foundation for his future role.
As a sophomore in 2020, Liufau started three of 10 games and recorded 22 tackles along with 0.5 sacks, showing steady growth in run support and coverage. His momentum was halted before the 2021 season when he suffered an ankle injury during practice, forcing him to miss the entire year while recovering and rehabilitating.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Liufau returned from his ankle injury in 2022 to start all 13 games for the Fighting Irish. He finished the season with 51 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and an interception, establishing himself as a reliable every-down linebacker. His consistency in the middle of the Notre Dame defense helped anchor the team’s run game.
As a senior in 2023, Liufau started all 12 games he played in and recorded 44 tackles and three sacks, his highest sack total in a single college season. His pass-rushing production from the linebacker position became a defining feature of his game. Following the regular season, Liufau opted out of the 2023 Sun Bowl and declared for the 2024 NFL draft, where his combination of size, athleticism, and three-down ability made him an appealing prospect.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024–Present)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Liufau in the third round with the 87th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, adding him to a linebacker room that needed youth and toughness. He signed his rookie contract and joined the Cowboys for offseason workouts, quickly earning a role on special teams and in the defensive rotation.
In his rookie NFL season, Liufau appeared in games for Dallas and built on his development with snaps at inside linebacker. Through the early portion of his career, his NFL resume includes 80 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections. His production across multiple categories suggests a player capable of impacting the game in several phases of defense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Liufau is recognized for his physicality at the point of attack, his downhill tackling, and his ability to rush the passer from the linebacker position. His coverage skills and football IQ, refined across five college seasons at Notre Dame, allow him to stay on the field in nickel and base defensive packages alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Liufau’s career include his 2019 Polynesian Bowl selection, his return from a 2021 ankle injury to start every game in 2022, his senior-season three-sack performance in 2023, and his third-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL draft.
Marist Liufau Career Wins
Marist Liufau’s career is still in its early chapters, and his statistical milestones continue to accumulate at the professional level with the Dallas Cowboys. His Notre Dame production and rookie NFL totals highlight his role as a three-down linebacker with growing responsibilities.
Notre Dame Highlights
Across his five college seasons, Liufau recorded 117 total tackles, four sacks, and one interception, along with multiple starts against ranked opponents. His senior campaign in 2023, in which he registered three sacks, stands as his most disruptive college season.
Other Wins & Performances
Liufau’s standout off-field honor came with his invitation to the 2019 Polynesian Bowl, an annual showcase of the top Polynesian high school football talent in the nation. His selection for the game affirmed his status as one of the premier linebacker recruits in the country.
Marist Liufau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Liufau comes from a family with deep football ties. He is the cousin of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, making them one of the more talked-about NFL family connections of recent years. Their shared Polynesian heritage and Hawaiian roots have helped spotlight the strong pipeline of players from the islands to the professional game.
Personal Life
Liufau is in a relationship with WNBA guard Sonia Citron, a former Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball player. The couple has been publicly connected through their shared Notre Dame background and remains a notable pairing between two professional athletes.
2025 Season Performance
Marist Liufau’s 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys represents his second NFL campaign and a chance to expand his role after a productive rookie year. Building on his totals of 80 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections, he entered the season looking to cement himself as an every-down starter at inside linebacker.
His early-season production has reflected his usage as a tackling and pass-rushing linebacker within the Cowboys’ defensive scheme, with continued involvement on special teams. As the season progresses, his ability to disrupt the run game and pressure opposing quarterbacks will be central to Dallas’ defensive outlook.
With the Cowboys investing a third-round pick in him and his rookie numbers already showing multi-phase impact, Liufau’s second year is viewed as a defining stretch for his trajectory as an NFL starter. Continued growth in coverage and consistency against the run would reinforce his status as a long-term piece of the Dallas defense.
