National Football League

Seau in first Polynesian Hall class

Published Oct. 9, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The late Junior Seau was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 2011, and the linebacker now is being honored in his home state of Hawaii.

On Wednesday the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced its inaugural induction class, and Seau made the cut along with six other past and present players and coaches of Polynesian descent. Former University of Hawaii football coach Dick Tomey, who was on the selection committee, said that the class was chosen out of more than 200 nominees who distinguished themselves on and off the football field.

Seau, who was of Samoan descent, was a two-time All-American at USC and played 20 seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots.

Also honored in the inaugural Hall of Fame class are BYU product Kurt Gouveia, Naval Academy football coach Ken Niumatalolo, former Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz, the late Herman Wedemeyer, who was the first player of Polynesian descent to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame out of Saint Mary’s College, LSU product Kevin Mawae and Jack Thompson, known as the “Throwin’ Samoan” during his NCAA record-setting quarterbacking career at Washington State.

The enshrinement ceremony will be held Jan. 23 at the Hawaii Convention Center as part of Pro Bowl Week.