Marte Mapu Bio
Marte-Myles Mapu is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets, where he was named the Big Sky Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Mapu entered the NFL in 2023 when he was selected by the Patriots in the third round of that year’s draft.
Early Life and Background
Marte Mapu was born on November 8, 1999, in Hawthorne, California. He grew up in the same Southern California community and attended Hawthorne High School, where he played on the school’s football team. Mapu is of American Samoan descent, a heritage that is well represented across the sport of American football.
At Hawthorne High School, Mapu lined up at quarterback and wide receiver, gaining early experience handling the football on both sides of the line of scrimmage before transitioning to the defensive side of the ball at the college level. Those offensive roots helped shape his understanding of route concepts and pass coverage, skills that later became central to his role as a linebacker.
Path to American Football
After high school, Mapu joined the Sacramento State Hornets, where he redshirted his true freshman season to develop his body and his game. His redshirt junior season in 2020 was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, an interruption he later credited with helping him mature both physically and mentally.
As a redshirt senior, Mapu was named second team All-Big Sky Conference, a first major step toward national recognition. He then used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes during the pandemic and returned for a sixth season. In 2022, his final college year, he was named the Big Sky Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, cementing his status as one of the top linebackers at the FCS level.
Marte Mapu Career
Early Career
Mapu’s college career was built through steady progression at Sacramento State. After his redshirt year, he developed into a reliable defender before breaking out with second-team All-Big Sky recognition as a redshirt senior. His return for a sixth season gave him the opportunity to refine his coverage skills and leadership, traits that scouts valued highly heading into the 2023 NFL draft.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
Mapu was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. He joined a Patriots defense in transition and quickly began working into the linebacker rotation. In Week 15 of his rookie season, Mapu recorded his first career interception, picking off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a memorable national showcase.
New England Patriots Era (2023–Present)
Mapu began the 2024 season on injured reserve after being placed there on August 27, 2024. He was activated from injured reserve on October 5, returning to the field midway through the year. Since then, he has continued to develop within the Patriots’ defensive scheme, working to carve out a larger role at linebacker.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mapu is a versatile linebacker whose coverage ability is his calling card. His experience as a high school quarterback and wide receiver helps him read route combinations and break on the football, while his size gives him the physicality needed in the run game. He pairs that athletic profile with a strong understanding of leverage, allowing him to match up against tight ends and running backs in passing situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mapu’s most signature early moment came in Week 15 of the 2023 season, when he intercepted Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The pick served as a clear statement that a young linebacker from Sacramento State could produce on an NFL field against one of the league’s top quarterbacks.
Marte Mapu Career Wins
Mapu is still in the early stages of his NFL career, so his professional win totals continue to build. His most notable career win to date is his first career interception, recorded against the Kansas City Chiefs during his rookie season. Beyond that play, his résumé is defined by steady development and postseason recognition at the college level rather than large trophy collections.
Sacramento State Highlights
At Sacramento State, Mapu earned second-team All-Big Sky Conference honors as a redshirt senior, followed by first-team All-Big Sky recognition in 2022. He was also named the Big Sky Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, the highest individual honor in the conference for a defensive player.
Other Wins and Performances
Mapu added an interception in his rookie NFL season and continued to contribute on special teams and defense. His selection in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by the New England Patriots stands as one of the clearest validations of his college production.
Marte Mapu Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Marte Mapu’s parents and immediate family is limited. He is of American Samoan descent, a background shared by many players throughout American football history.
Personal Life
Mapu has not publicly shared details about a spouse or children. He stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 229 pounds, an athletic frame that has served him well at the linebacker position. He continues to focus on his professional career with the New England Patriots.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Marte Mapu is expected to be in the mix for a larger role in the New England Patriots’ linebacker rotation. After beginning the 2024 season on injured reserve, he returned in October and finished the year on the field, giving the coaching staff a clearer view of his long-term role within the defense.
Key results to watch include his snap count on defense and his usage in passing-down situations, where his coverage ability and interception instincts are most valuable. A healthy 2025 campaign would allow him to build on the momentum of his rookie interception and translate his college accolades into consistent NFL production.
The outlook for Mapu in 2025 is one of opportunity rather than certainty. He remains on a rookie contract with the Patriots, and his growth within the team’s defensive system will likely determine whether he develops into an every-down linebacker or a rotational piece. Either way, his combination of size, athleticism, and football IQ gives him a clear path forward in the league.