Netane Muti Bio
Netane Muti is a Tongan professional American football guard born on 27 March 1999 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga. He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs after an early life spent in Tonga and Wahiawa, Hawaii, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Muti has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and the Detroit Lions, building a career marked by resilience through significant injuries.
Early Life and Background
Netane Muti was born in Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga, where he spent his earliest years. As a child, he learned to play rugby, a sport deeply embedded in Tongan culture and a common starting point for many athletes from the Pacific Islands. He later moved with his family to Wahiawa, Hawaii, where he took up American football and began developing the skills that would eventually take him to the professional level.
At Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Muti played as a two-way lineman. He was not heavily recruited coming out of high school, which made his eventual path to the National Football League even more remarkable. Despite limited national attention, his physical tools and toughness stood out to college coaches willing to take a chance on a late-bloomer from Hawaii.
Path to American Football
Coming out of Leilehua, Netane Muti originally committed to play for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, signing a letter of intent with the University of Hawaiʻi on National Signing Day. That plan changed when his application was placed on hold because of a test score, prompting him to request and receive a release from the school.
He then signed with Fresno State, where he would spend the next several years developing into an NFL prospect. At Fresno State, Muti faced a series of injuries, including Achilles and Lisfranc issues, that limited his playing time across multiple seasons. Despite playing only a handful of full games over his final two college years, he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and was fully cleared by doctors at the NFL Scouting Combine, where his bench press total was the highest among all participants.
Netane Muti Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Netane Muti began his professional career after being selected by the Denver Broncos with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp on 28 July 2020, but he was moved back to the active roster just six days later as he returned to full health.
Over the next two seasons, Muti worked to establish himself within the Broncos organization and contribute along the offensive line. On 30 August 2022, he was waived by the Broncos and signed to the practice squad the following day, signaling the beginning of a transition period in his career.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Muti’s time in Denver represented his first opportunity in the league, and he used his early years with the Broncos to adjust to the speed and physicality of the professional game. Although his on-field role was limited by injuries and roster moves, he remained part of the team’s plans and continued developing as an interior lineman.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–2023)
On 13 December 2022, Muti was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders off the Denver Broncos practice squad, giving him a fresh start with a new organization. He rejoined the Raiders on a new contract on 9 March 2023, signaling the team’s continued interest in his development as a guard.
His second stint with the Raiders came to an end on 29 August 2023, when he was waived and then re-signed to the practice squad. After the season, he was not among the players the team re-signed to reserve or future contracts, and his practice squad contract expired, making him a free agent.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–2025)
On 6 February 2024, Netane Muti signed a reserve/future contract with the Detroit Lions, opening a new chapter in his professional career. He was placed on injured reserve on 1 August, but he remained part of the Lions’ plans as he worked his way back onto the field.
On 26 August 2025, Muti was released by the Lions as part of final roster cuts. He was re-signed to the practice squad on 5 November, before being released again on 1 December as the team reshaped its roster late in the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Netane Muti’s career came at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where his bench press total was the highest of any participant. That performance, combined with his medical clearance, helped cement his status as a legitimate NFL prospect despite limited recent playing time at Fresno State.
Netane Muti Career Statistics
As of the 2025 season, Netane Muti has appeared in 22 NFL games, with 4 starts. Those numbers reflect a career that has included meaningful contributions on the offensive line for multiple franchises, even as injuries and roster turnover have shaped his path through the league.
Netane Muti Family
Personal Life
Netane Muti was born and raised in Tonga before later moving to Wahiawa, Hawaii, where he finished high school and began his football career. He has continued to make his home in Wahiawa, Hawaii, even as his professional career has taken him across multiple NFL cities. His Pacific Island roots, first developed through rugby in Tonga, remain a defining part of his athletic identity.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Netane Muti working to earn a role with the Detroit Lions after signing a reserve/future contract in February 2024. He was released as part of the Lions’ final roster cuts on 26 August 2025, a common step for depth players across the league as teams trim to the regular-season limit.
His season continued when he was re-signed to the Lions’ practice squad on 5 November, giving him another opportunity to contribute in the latter portion of the year. That stint came to a close on 1 December, when he was released as Detroit adjusted its roster for the closing stretch of the season.
Across his career, Muti’s 22 games played and 4 games started underscore a journey defined more by perseverance than by volume of starts. His experience in Denver, Las Vegas, and Detroit has given him a broad view of multiple offensive line systems, and he remains a respected depth piece whenever healthy.