Eku Leota Bio
Eku Leota (born May 11, 1999) is a Samoan-American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 260 pounds, he plays on the defensive side of the ball and has built his career on perseverance after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Leota has spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints before joining Arizona’s practice squad in December 2025. His journey from the islands of Samoa to the heart of professional football reflects a steady climb through college programs and NFL practice squads.
Early Life and Background
Eku Leota was born on May 11, 1999, in Falefā, Samoa, a small village known for its tight-knit community and strong cultural roots. He grew up in a Samoan household where family, faith, and physical activity were central parts of daily life. At the age of 7, Leota moved to Asheville, North Carolina, joining family members who had already settled in the United States.
The transition from a Pacific Island village to a mid-sized Southern city shaped Leota’s early years, offering new opportunities in school and organized sports. He attended Asheville High School, where he first gained notice as a physical and athletic defender. His size, combined with quickness and a natural feel for the game, helped him stand out among his peers and opened the door to college recruitment.
Path to American Football
Leota’s path to American football at the highest level began with his commitment to Northwestern University, a Big Ten Conference program with a strong academic and athletic tradition. He redshirted his true freshman season, preserving a year of eligibility while learning the pace and structure of college football. As a redshirt freshman, he recorded 2.5 sacks, an early sign of his pass-rushing potential.
During his redshirt sophomore year, Leota earned third-team All-Big Ten recognition, validating his development as one of the conference’s notable defensive players. After that season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, seeking a fresh opportunity to expand his role. He ultimately transferred to Auburn, a Southeastern Conference program, where he aimed to test himself against top-tier competition.
Eku Leota Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Leota’s college career began at Northwestern, where he spent several seasons developing his game in the Big Ten. After redshirting his first year, he contributed on the defensive line and linebacker corps, building a reputation as a reliable edge rusher. His third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2020 was the most prominent individual honor of his Northwestern tenure.
Following his transfer to Auburn, Leota quickly made an impact during the 2021 season. In his first year with the Tigers, he tallied 23 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and seven sacks, showcasing his ability to disrupt opposing offenses. Unfortunately, a season-ending pectoral injury in the fifth game of Auburn’s 2022 campaign cut short what had been a promising senior season and complicated his path to the NFL.
NFL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Despite his injury history, Leota received an opportunity at the professional level when the Carolina Panthers signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023. He was waived during final roster cuts in late August but was quickly signed to the Panthers’ practice squad the following day, keeping him within the organization. On November 13, 2023, Leota was promoted to the active roster, marking his first official appearance on an NFL active list.
In 2024, Leota’s career took several turns. He was waived by Carolina on September 17, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad, only to be released again on September 24. He landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 1, 2024, joining their practice squad. On January 14, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh, a deal designed to keep him in the organization through the offseason and into the next training camp.
New Orleans Saints Era (2025)
Leota’s time in Pittsburgh ended on August 26, 2025, when he was waived as part of final roster cuts. Within days, he found a new opportunity, signing with the New Orleans Saints practice squad on September 2, 2025. As a practice squad elevation, he appeared in three games for the Saints, recording one tackle and gaining valuable regular-season experience.
His stint in New Orleans was short, however. On November 25, 2025, the Saints waived Leota, once again sending him in search of a new NFL home. The brief Saints chapter nevertheless added meaningful game reps to his professional resume and reinforced his reputation as a dependable depth piece.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On December 2, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals signed Eku Leota to their practice squad, providing him with another pathway back into the league. The move came at a critical point in the season, when teams often rely on practice squad players to help with preparation and short-term roster needs. Joining a Cardinals defense known for its aggressive front offered Leota a fresh environment to compete and grow.
Leota’s arrival in Arizona represents the latest chapter in a professional journey defined by persistence. After going undrafted in 2023, he has spent time with four NFL organizations, navigating injuries, releases, and elevations while continuing to develop his craft. His ongoing presence on an NFC West practice squad keeps his NFL dream alive heading into the next offseason.
Driving Style and Strengths
Leota’s game centers on his size, length, and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. At 6 feet 4 inches and roughly 260 pounds, he combines the frame of an edge rusher with the mobility expected of a modern linebacker. His college production at Auburn, including seven sacks in a single season, highlighted his knack for pressuring quarterbacks, while his time in the Big Ten showed he could hold up in run defense and coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Leota’s most notable milestones is his third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2020, an honor that underscored his arrival as a college-level defender. Going undrafted in 2023 yet reaching an NFL active roster by November of that year stands as another key turning point. Each subsequent signing, from Carolina to Pittsburgh to New Orleans to Arizona, has added to a career defined by steady perseverance.
Eku Leota Career Wins
As a linebacker and edge player, Eku Leota’s professional résumé is measured more in defensive production and roster achievements than in win totals. Across his time with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Arizona Cardinals, he has primarily contributed on practice squads, with limited active-roster appearances. His college record, particularly his seven sacks in a single season at Auburn, remains the most concrete statistical highlight of his career.
Eku Leota Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Leota was raised in a Samoan family with deep ties to the islands of Samoa, where community and kinship are central to daily life. His relocation to Asheville, North Carolina, at the age of 7 reflected the strong family networks that often connect Samoan communities in the United States. While specific details about his parents and siblings are not widely documented, his upbringing in Falefā provided the foundation for his later athletic pursuits.
Personal Life
Eku Leota currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina, the city where he completed his high school education and where much of his extended family lives. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children, and limited information is available about his life outside of football. His social media presence, including accounts on X and Instagram, offers occasional insight into his training and personal interests.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a period of transition for Eku Leota, marked by movement between practice squads and brief stints on active rosters. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2025, he was waived in late August as part of final roster cuts. He quickly caught on with the New Orleans Saints practice squad in early September, where he earned three game appearances as a practice squad elevation and recorded one tackle.
Leota’s release from the Saints on November 25, 2025, came just over a week before his December 2 signing with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. The midseason move to Arizona gave him an opportunity to finish the year with an NFC West contender and showcase his skills during a critical stretch of the schedule. Practice squad players like Leota often play a vital role in preparation, simulating opposing offensive looks for the active defense.
Heading into the latter portion of the 2025 season, Leota’s outlook centers on stability and continued development within the Cardinals organization. His track record of rebounding from multiple releases suggests he will compete hard for a future contract, whether as a reserve/future signing or a contributor on special teams and defense. The coming offseason will be pivotal in determining whether he can convert a practice squad role into a longer-term NFL home.