Alaska’s Brandon Pili picked up by Seattle Seahawks off waivers

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The Seattle Seahawks have claimed Brandon Pili off of waivers, the team announced Monday.

The Alaskan defensive tackle was released by the Miami Dolphins Saturday before signing two days later with the franchise closest in proximity to his home state of Alaska.

Pili, 25, appeared in 12 games — including eight this year — in two seasons with the Dolphins, recording four tackles on the defensive line.

A former Dimond High School standout, Pili was an all-conference wrestler, track and field athlete, and of course, football player, where he went on to become the University of Southern California’s first-ever football letterman from Alaska, playing 52 games for the Trojans.

Undrafted in 2023, Pili made Miami’s final 53-man roster to become the 14th Alaskan to play in the NFL.

Alaska Sports Hall of Famer Reggie Tongue, of Fairbanks and Lathrop High fame, played defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks from 2000-2003.

Pili, at 6-foot-3 and 319 pounds, is currently listed as Seattle’s second-string nose tackle and is expected to practice this week if he clears a physical.

Pili joins a 4-5 Seahawks team that is 1.5 games out of first place in the NFC West. Seattle will visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.