Marcus Mariota Bio
Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota (born October 30, 1993) is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and, in 2014, became the first Oregon player and the first Hawaii-born athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. Mariota was selected second overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft and has since served as a starter and a backup for several franchises across the league.
Early Life and Background
Marcus Mariota was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 30, 1993, to Alana Deppe-Mariota and Toa Mariota. He is of Samoan descent on his father’s side and German descent on his mother’s side. Growing up, Mariota admired the quarterback play of fellow Samoan Jeremiah Masoli, a standout at the Saint Louis School and later at the University of Oregon. He has a younger brother, Matt, who also played football at Oregon, primarily on special teams, and Mariota describes himself as a dedicated Christian.
Mariota attended the Saint Louis School in Honolulu, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. In football, he was relatively unknown until late in his high school career because he did not start until his senior season. His parents sold their home overlooking Diamond Head, in part to finance football camps that would gain him exposure. As a senior, he helped lead Saint Louis to an 11–1 record and the Hawaii Division I state title, while being named PrepStar Magazine All-West Region and Interscholastic League of Honolulu Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 2,597 yards on 165-of-225 passing attempts, including 32 touchdowns against only five interceptions, and rushed for 455 yards and seven touchdowns.
Path to Professional Football
Mariota attended an Oregon football camp in the summer of 2010, which allowed Mark Helfrich, Oregon’s then offensive coordinator, to be one of the first recruiters to discover him. After the camp, Helfrich visited Mariota in Hawaii, and he and Chip Kelly decided to immediately offer Mariota a scholarship, even though he had never started a varsity game. After his senior season, he was rated the No. 2 recruiting prospect in the state of Hawaii and No. 12 dual-threat quarterback nationally by Rivals.com. He received offers only from Memphis and Oregon, with the Ducks’ offer coming after their first choice, Johnny Manziel, reneged on his commitment and went to Texas A&M.
Marcus Mariota Career
College Career (2012–2014)
After redshirting the 2011 season, Mariota started the 2012 opener for the Ducks, becoming the first freshman to start a season opener for Oregon in 22 seasons. He helped lead the Ducks to a 12–1 record and the No. 2 final ranking, earning All-Pac-12 Conference First Team honors, Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, and 2013 Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP in a 35–17 victory over Kansas State. As a starter in all 13 games, he threw for 2,677 yards and 32 touchdowns against six interceptions and rushed for 752 yards and five touchdowns.
In 2013, Mariota earned Pac-12 All-Conference First Team honors for the second consecutive year after setting a Pac-12 record by attempting 353 passes without an interception. He threw for 3,665 yards with 31 touchdowns and only four interceptions, while rushing for 715 yards and nine touchdowns. He guided Oregon to a third consecutive bowl victory, beating Texas 30–7 in the 2013 Alamo Bowl and earning Offensive MVP after rushing for 133 yards on 15 carries and finishing with 386 total yards.
Heisman Season (2014)
Considered a Heisman Trophy favorite entering 2014, Mariota was named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and Davey O’Brien Award. On December 11, 2014, at the College Football Awards show in Orlando, he won the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s best quarterback, along with the Walter Camp Award and the Maxwell Award. The next day in Eugene, he graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in General Sciences, with an emphasis on human physiology. On December 13, 2014, Mariota became the first Oregon Duck and Hawaii-born athlete to win the Heisman Trophy, earning 788 of 891 first-place votes and 90.9 percent of the total points.
After a 12–1 regular season, Oregon was selected to play in the 2015 Rose Bowl against Florida State and Jameis Winston. Mariota was named Offensive MVP in the 59–20 victory, throwing for 338 yards with two passing touchdowns and rushing for 62 yards with one touchdown. Oregon then faced Ohio State in the National Championship and lost 42–20. Mariota entered the 2015 NFL Draft a few days later, ending his collegiate career.
Marcus Mariota Professional Career
Tennessee Titans Era (2015–2019)
Mariota was selected with the second overall pick in the first round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft behind Jameis Winston. In his NFL debut on September 13, 2015, against the Buccaneers, he threw four touchdowns with zero interceptions and a perfect passer rating of 158.3, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to attain a perfect passer rating in his first career start. He finished his rookie year with 2,818 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 12 games.
In 2016, Mariota threw for a career-high 3,426 yards with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and rushed for a career-high 349 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. In 2017, he led the Titans to their first postseason berth since 2008 and a Wild Card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, where he became the first quarterback in NFL playoffs to catch his own pass for a touchdown after it was batted back to him. In 2018, the Titans picked up his fifth-year option. After six games in 2019, Mariota was replaced as starter by Ryan Tannehill.
Las Vegas Raiders (2020–2021)
On March 16, 2020, Mariota signed a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders to serve as Derek Carr’s backup. He made his Raiders debut in Week 15 of the 2020 season after Carr left with a groin injury, completing 17-of-28 passes for 226 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. In 2021, he was used frequently as a gadget quarterback, entering games to run or hand off the football.
Atlanta Falcons (2022)
On March 21, 2022, Mariota signed a two-year, $18.75 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons after Atlanta traded longtime starter Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. He was named the starter after competing with rookie Desmond Ridder in the offseason. During a Week 6 28–14 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he completed 13-of-14 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 50 yards and a touchdown, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Mariota was benched in favor of Ridder in Week 15 and placed on injured reserve with a knee injury shortly after. In 13 games, he threw for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, along with a career-high 438 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He was released on February 28, 2023.
Philadelphia Eagles (2023)
On March 20, 2023, Mariota signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. In a backup role to Jalen Hurts, he appeared in three games, throwing for a touchdown and an interception, both of which came in Week 18 against the Giants.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
On March 14, 2024, Mariota signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders. He briefly wore number 0, the first quarterback in NFL history to do so, before changing to number 18 after training camp. After a pectoral strain sent him to injured reserve to start the season, he returned in October and entered a Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers to help lead a 40–7 victory. On March 13, 2025, Mariota re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year, $8 million contract. In 2025, he has started in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, including a Week 3 win over the Raiders in which he completed 15-of-21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mariota is recognized as a dual-threat quarterback who combines efficient downfield passing with explosive rushing ability. His mobility has allowed him to extend plays and produce on designed runs, while his arm talent has produced some of the league’s most efficient single-game performances, including a perfect passer rating in his NFL debut. Throughout his career, he has excelled when protected, allowing him to deliver accurate throws and capitalize on play-action opportunities.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mariota’s 2015 debut remains one of the most memorable in league history, with four touchdowns, a perfect passer rating, and AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In 2017, he led the Titans to their first playoff win since 2003, catching his own tipped pass for a postseason touchdown. In 2014, he became the first Oregon Duck and Hawaii-born athlete to win the Heisman Trophy, and in 2024, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to wear the number 0 jersey.
Marcus Mariota Career Wins and Performances
Marcus Mariota has produced several notable individual performances across his NFL stops with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.
Tennessee Titans Highlights
Mariota’s Titans tenure produced career highs in passing (3,426 yards in 2016) and rushing (438 yards in 2022 as a Falcon). His 2017 Wild Card performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, in which he caught his own batted pass for a touchdown, is one of the most unusual postseason moments in league history. He also led the Titans to three consecutive winning seasons from 2016 to 2018.
Other Wins and Performances
Mariota earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors during his 2022 season with the Atlanta Falcons after a near-perfect passing performance against the San Francisco 49ers. He has also contributed as a reliable backup for the Raiders, Eagles, and Commanders.
Marcus Mariota Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marcus Mariota was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, by his mother, Alana Deppe-Mariota, and his father, Toa Mariota, of Samoan descent. His family made significant sacrifices to support his athletic development, including selling their home overlooking Diamond Head to finance football camps. His younger brother, Matt Mariota, played at Oregon, primarily on special teams.
Personal Life
Mariota married Kiyomi Cook in 2021, and the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Makaia, the following year. Mariota is a dedicated Christian and, along with his wife, runs the Motiv8 Foundation, which works to provide sports and healthy lifestyle programming to children.
2025 Season Performance
Marcus Mariota re-signed with the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $8 million contract on March 13, 2025, returning to a team that reached the NFC Championship Game the previous year. With rookie phenom Jayden Daniels entrenched as the starter, Mariota entered the season as the primary backup quarterback, providing veteran depth behind a young offense.
Mariota has already been called into action during the 2025 season due to injuries to Daniels. In Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, he started in place of Daniels and completed 15-of-21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown in a 41–24 victory. During Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mariota again started in place of Daniels, completing 21-of-30 passes for 213 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in a 28–7 road loss.
Looking ahead, Mariota’s value to the Commanders remains rooted in his experience and mobility, both of which have stabilized the offense during key stretches. Should Daniels remain healthy, Mariota’s role will continue to provide the Commanders with a proven dual-threat option off the bench, while keeping him ready for any playoff push the team may mount.