Ngata credits parents' example for his success


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SALT LAKE CITY — Haloti Ngata is one of the most feared defensive tackles in the National Football League. The Highland High School graduate has been named to five straight pro-bowls and is a Super Bowl champion.

“It’s a dream come true,” he says.

He wishes his parents could be here to witness his success.

His father Solomone was killed in a tragic accident in 2002. His mother Olga passed away due to complications from diabetes in 2006 while Haloti was preparing for the NFL draft.

He credits their teachings and their example for the success he enjoys today.

“The main thing was family. Just doing it for my dad all the hard work he’s done. I’m trying to do something to make him proud. Here in Baltimore a lot of people always say for a big guy you can run to the ball, its hard work, you have a great work ethic. A lot of that comes from my father.”

There is another side to this ferocious run stopper on the football field that many don’t see. He has a sensitive, caring side that comes from his mother.


For a guy, you don't want to show emotion a lot of the time. My mom taught me a lot about love and respect and emotion. Great people person my mom was and that's why I do some of the things I do here in Baltimore with the community. It comes through my mom.

–Haloti Ngata


“For a guy, you don’t want to show emotion a lot of the time. My mom taught me a lot about love and respect and emotion. Great people person my mom was and that’s why I do some of the things I do here in Baltimore with the community. It comes through my mom.”

The work ethic that he learned from his father and the selflessness, caring and love learned from his mother have made him one of the best players in the NFL on the field and one of its best ambassadors off the field. The Haloti Ngata Family Foundation raises money for such causes as the Lone Survivor Project and diabetes research as well as education and children’s charities in the Baltimore area.

It has also made him a better husband and father. He and his wife Christina are raising three sons — Solomon, Haloti Maximus and Colt. He does everything he can to be the same type of husband and father that his father was despite the demands of a career in the NFL.

“I think they know and understand that they are the most important thing to me,” he says. “Just being able to spend time with them when I can is probably the biggest thing for them to know that they are No. 1.”

He believes being a family man has made him a better football player.

“Just being selfless and sacrificing yourself for your teammates and then your family. It has definitely made me a better football player.”

This marks Ngata's ninth year in the NFL and he has no plans to retire anytime soon. He has embraced his role as a leader on the team after the retirement of Ray Lewis and departure of other veterans.

“It’s weird,” he says about being one of the “old” guys on the team. “I never thought it would happen. I got gray hair in my beard. This is probably the first year where I felt like one of the old guys. It’s weird but it’s also great. You can show a lot of things with these younger guys and lead them. I’m not much of a talker but just showing them by example is my role.”

He is driven to bring another Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and to continue to make his parents proud.

“Now that I’ve got that feeling of being in the Super Bowl I want to get back just to get that feeling again. It’s definitely a dream come true but something I want to accomplish again.”

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Jeremiah Jensen

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