Netane Muti Bio
Netane Muti is a Tongan professional American football guard born on 27 March 1999 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 147 kilograms, Muti has built a career in the National Football League (NFL) as an interior offensive lineman. He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs after an early life spent in Tonga and Wahiawa, Hawaii. Muti was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and the Detroit Lions. His career has been marked by significant challenges, including injuries, but he continues to compete at a high level.
Early Life and Background
Netane Muti was born and raised in Tonga, where he learned to play rugby during his childhood. The island environment shaped his early athletic development and introduced him to contact sports from a young age. His family later moved to Wahiawa, Hawaii, where Muti made the transition from rugby to American football, a sport that would eventually define his career.
At Leilehua High School, Muti played as a two-way lineman, gaining valuable experience on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Despite his size and athletic potential, he was not heavily recruited by major college programs. He originally committed to play for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, signing a letter of intent with the University of Hawai’i on National Signing Day. However, his application was put on hold due to a test score issue, and he asked for and was granted a release from his commitment. Muti ultimately signed with Fresno State to continue his football career.
Path to Professional American Football
Muti arrived at Fresno State as a developmental prospect, where he redshirted his first season following an Achilles injury suffered during preseason camp. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he started all 14 games as a member of an offensive line that ranked third in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss allowed, earning Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Injuries continued to interrupt his college career, as a season-ending Achilles injury in 2018 cut his campaign short, and a Lisfranc foot injury in 2019 sidelined him for the final nine games of the year. Despite playing only five full games over his final two seasons, Muti announced in January 2020 that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. He was cleared by doctors at the NFL Scouting Combine, where his bench press total was the highest among all participants at the 2020 event.
Netane Muti Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Netane Muti was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 181st overall pick in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He began his professional career with Denver but was placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp on 28 July 2020. He was moved back to the active roster six days later as the team prepared for the regular season.
On 30 August 2022, Muti was waived by the Broncos and signed to the team’s practice squad the next day, ending his initial stint with the organization that had drafted him. His time in Denver provided his first exposure to the speed and complexity of the professional game, even as injuries continued to play a role in his early development.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022–2023)
On 13 December 2022, Netane Muti was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders off the Broncos practice squad, giving him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot with a new organization. He re-signed with the Raiders on 9 March 2023, signaling the team’s continued interest in his development as an interior lineman.
On 29 August 2023, Muti was waived by the Raiders and re-signed to the practice squad. He was not among the players the team re-signed to reserve or future contracts after the season, and he became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–2025)
On 6 February 2024, Netane Muti signed a reserve or future contract with the Detroit Lions, joining the organization as he looked to revive his professional career. He was placed on injured reserve on 1 August, a setback that kept him out of early-season action.
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 2025 before being released again on 1 December 2025. His journey with Detroit reflected both the resilience required to remain in the NFL and the constant competition for roster spots at the offensive guard position.
Driving Style and Strengths
Netane Muti’s professional profile is built on size, power, and positional versatility along the interior offensive line. His elite bench press performance at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine demonstrated the upper-body strength that allows him to anchor against powerful defensive tackles. Coaches have valued his willingness to play through injuries and adapt to multiple line schemes.
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 ranked first among all participants. Being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos also stands as a major milestone, validating his decision to enter the league after a college career shaped by injuries. His ability to sign with three different NFL franchises across five seasons speaks to his perseverance.
Netane Muti Career Wins
Netane Muti’s professional career has been defined more by his development and perseverance than by the accumulation of individual awards or statistical accolades. As an interior offensive lineman, his contributions are measured by the performance of the units he has been part of rather than headline statistics. Muti’s journey through three NFL organizations reflects a quiet determination to remain in the league despite significant injury setbacks.
Netane Muti Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Netane Muti was born in Tonga, where rugby served as his introduction to organized contact sport. His family’s relocation to Wahiawa, Hawaii, marked a turning point that led to his transition into American football. Specific details about his parents and extended family members are not publicly documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Netane Muti has made his home in Wahiawa, Hawaii, maintaining ties to the community where he first embraced American football. His multicultural background, rooted in Tongan heritage and shaped by his years in Hawaii, has remained an important part of his personal identity throughout his professional journey. Public information about his marital status, spouse, or children is not widely available.
2025 Season Performance
Netane Muti’s 2025 campaign with the Detroit Lions began with a reserve or future contract signed in February 2024, positioning him for a potential return to the active roster. He was placed on injured reserve on 1 August 2025, a setback that delayed his contributions during training camp and preseason. On 26 August 2025, Muti was released as part of final roster cuts, an annual league-wide event that determines the opening regular-season rosters.
On 5 November 2025, Muti was re-signed to the Lions’ practice squad, providing him with another opportunity to contribute within the organization. He was released again on 1 December 2025, concluding his most recent stretch with the franchise. Throughout the year, Muti continued to demonstrate the persistence that has characterized his career since the 2020 NFL Draft.
Looking ahead, Netane Muti remains an experienced interior lineman whose combination of size, strength, and scheme flexibility could attract interest from teams seeking depth at the guard position. His track record of returning to NFL rosters after injury setbacks suggests that his professional football journey is far from over.