Zach Wilson Polynesian Hawaii
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Zach Wilson and Tua Tagovailoa have at least two things in common. They are both quarterbacks in the NFL and they are both Polynesian.
The starting singnal-caller for the Dolphins was surprised to find that out about his backup!
Wilson, on his fourth team in five NFL seasons, signed with Miami on a one-year, $6 million contract during the offseason. He will serve as QB2 behind Tagovailoa, in front of rookies Quinn Ewers and Brett Gabbert (for now, at least). The Dolphis arrived to training camp earlier this week. It was the quarterbacks’ first opportunity to all be together in the same room at the same time.
As the small talk commenced, Wilson and Tagovailoa found common ground in their heritage.
Everybody knows by now that the guy named Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa grew up in Hawaii. The 27-year-old was born in ‘Ewa Beach and played at Saint Louis High School in Honolulu prior to his standout career at Alabama. He was twice named as the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. He was twice named as the Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
And then there is Wilson, who was named as the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year in 2020. That one might come as more of a surprise based on his appearance and the name Zach.
However, his middle name is ‘Kapono,’ which is Hawaiian for “righteous” and he was born to Mike and Lisa Wilson. Mike, who played defensive end at the University of Utah, grew up in Hawaii on the island of O’ahu. (Don’t get him going with the Pidgin accent!) He played at McKinley High School in Honolulu.
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Mike Wilson is half Polynesian, which makes his sons one quarter Polynesian. You can see it in Zach’s face if you squint hard enough.
The Wilson family often travels west to Hawaii to visit the patriarch’s home land. They embrace their heritage as often as possible with little details like leis at their weddings. It is a big part of their lives.
Tua Tagovailoa was shocked to discover the Polynesian tie to Zach Wilson!
I don’t think Tua knew I was Polynesian. You know, my pops born and raised in Hawaii, we have a little Polynesian in the family. Those ties, just being in Hawaii, we kind of talked about that a little bit… Told him where my pops went to high school and stuff. I think we have a cool little connection there.
— Zach Wilson
Miami has yet to decide on its depth chart. The Dolphins may decide to put Ewers over Wilson when it is all said and done. We’ll see. Regardless of what happens, they have the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Polynesian College Football Players of the Year on their roster!
Grayson Weir BroBible editor avatar