Isaiah Pola-Mao Bio
Isaiah Pola-Mao (born June 30, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he plays as a defensive back known for his tackling and ball-hawking skills. He played college football for the USC Trojans and entered the NFL in 2022 as an undrafted free agent.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Pola-Mao carries a strong football heritage. His father, Tracey Mao, played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League, and he is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu. Pola-Mao has steadily built his professional resume, becoming a reliable contributor in the Raiders’ secondary.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Pola-Mao was born on June 30, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona. He grew up in a family with deep ties to football, as his father Tracey Mao competed in the Arena Football League with the Arizona Rattlers. That household connection to the sport helped shape his early interest in defensive play and physical competition.
He attended Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona, where he was a multi-sport athlete. In addition to football, he played basketball and ran track, building the athletic foundation that would later define his career. As a sophomore, he was named first-team USA Today All-Arizona after recording 35 tackles and seven interceptions, returning two of those picks for touchdowns.
Across his high school career, Pola-Mao consistently produced at a high level. His junior season included first-team All-Arizona honors, with 98 tackles, four interceptions, and 27 receptions on offense. As a senior, he was recognized as a PrepStar All-American, Max Preps first-team All-American, USA Today All-Arizona, and the All-East Valley Tribune Defensive Player of the Year after recording 100 tackles and 10 interceptions.
Path to American Football
After a decorated high school tenure, Isaiah Pola-Mao announced his commitment to the University of Southern California in January 2017. He joined the USC Trojans as a highly regarded defensive back prospect, intending to develop his craft at the collegiate level. As a freshman, he redshirted after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery during training camp.
His path to becoming a starter began as a redshirt-freshman, when he started the first two games before reinjuring his shoulder and ending his season. Despite the setback, Pola-Mao showed flashes of his potential, recording eight tackles and a forced fumble. His perseverance through injuries helped him grow into a leadership role within the Trojans’ defensive unit.
By his sophomore year in 2019, he had secured the starting free safety role and produced 73 tackles with a team-high four interceptions in 13 games. That season cemented his reputation as a playmaker in the secondary and prepared him for an eventual transition to the professional level.
Isaiah Pola-Mao Career
Early Career (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Isaiah Pola-Mao signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He impressed enough during training camp to earn one of four undrafted rookie spots on the Raiders’ final roster, an early sign of his value to the team’s defensive plans.
He appeared in two games before being waived on September 29, 2022. The Raiders quickly re-signed him to the practice squad on October 1, and he was promoted back to the active roster on November 9. That season provided his first exposure to professional game speed and gave him a foundation to build upon.
Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2022-2024)
Pola-Mao continued to develop within the Raiders organization over the following seasons, gradually earning more responsibility in the secondary. By 2024, he had become a regular contributor on defense, starting 14 of the 17 games in which he appeared. His growth reflected the patience of both the team and the player.
His most notable performance came in Week 16 of the 2024 season, when he recorded nine tackles and two forced fumbles in a 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. That effort earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, signaling his arrival as an impact player at the professional level. Across the 2024 season, he logged 89 combined tackles, 5 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 1.0 sack.
On February 24, 2025, Pola-Mao re-signed with the Raiders on a two-year, $8.45 million contract. The deal reflected the organization’s confidence in his continued development and his role within the team’s defensive future.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pola-Mao’s game is built on physicality, tackling reliability, and a nose for the football. He excels in run support and is comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage as a box safety, where his size and instincts allow him to disrupt opposing offenses. His ball skills, developed through years of interception work, give him the range to contribute in coverage as well.
Notable Events and Milestones
His AFC Defensive Player of the Week award following the Week 16 victory over Jacksonville in 2024 stands as a defining early-career milestone. Going from undrafted free agent to a multi-year contract within three seasons also marks a significant career arc for the young safety.
Isaiah Pola-Mao Career Wins
Isaiah Pola-Mao has built his professional resume primarily through consistency and incremental growth rather than championship trophies at the NFL level. His most celebrated team victory to date came in Week 16 of the 2024 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a 19-14 win in which his two forced fumbles proved decisive. At the collegiate level, he earned recognition as the USC co-Defensive Perimeter Player of the Year in 2019 and second-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors in 2020.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Pola-Mao’s signature performance remains his two-forced-fumble, nine-tackle game against the Jaguars in 2024. That showing earned him conference-wide recognition and reinforced his value to the Raiders’ defense. He has continued to expand his role in the secondary, evidenced by his 14 starts in the 2024 season.
Other Performances
During his time at USC, Pola-Mao amassed 178 tackles, five interceptions, eight passes defended, four fumbles recovered, and one forced fumble across 32 games. He also led the Trojans in interceptions during the 2019 season, becoming the first USC player in over 20 years to record picks in three consecutive games.
Isaiah Pola-Mao Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Isaiah Pola-Mao comes from a family with a notable football lineage. His father, Tracey Mao, played for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League, exposing Isaiah to high-level competition from a young age. He is also the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, a connection that has shaped his understanding of the safety position.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Isaiah Pola-Mao continues to be recognized for his dedication to the sport that runs through his family. While he keeps most personal matters private, his journey from a multi-sport high school athlete to an NFL starter reflects the values instilled in him at home.
2025 Season Performance
Isaiah Pola-Mao enters the 2025 season with momentum after his breakout 2024 campaign and a new two-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. The deal, signed in February 2025, commits him to the franchise through 2027 and reflects his standing as a core member of the secondary.
Coming off 89 combined tackles and an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award, he is expected to take on an expanded leadership role within the Raiders’ defense. His performance in run support and his ability to force turnovers will likely remain central to his contributions.
As the Raiders build around their young defensive pieces, Pola-Mao’s continued growth and durability will be key storylines to follow through the 2025 season and beyond.