NAME:
Alapati ‘Al’ Lolotai (ring name: Alo Leilani)
BIRTHPLACE:
Apia, Samoa
KNOWN FOR:
First Samoan and Polynesian to play in the NFL for the Washington Redskins in 1945 and an All-American Football conference player for L.A Dons. He spent 5 years playing football before switching to Pro Wrestling.
SHORT BIO / CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1945 – First Samoan and Polynesian to play in the NFL for the Washington Redskins
1946 – He joined rival football league All-American Football Conference (AAFC) to play for the Los Angeles Dons.
1949 – The AAFC merged with the NFL, but the Dons were not one of the three teams admitted to the NFL and instead decided to merge their franchise with the Rams. It would be the L.A Dons last season and Al’s last time playing professional football.
1950 – After the season had come to an end with the L.A Dons franchise, Al decided to steer his career towards becoming a professional wrestler, adopting the ring-name ‘Alo Leilani’.
Won NWA (Central States) Heart of America Heavyweight title
Won NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title – December 16, 1955
Won NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title – May 19, 1957
Won NWA Hawaii Heavyweight title – July 8, 1959
Won Stampede North American Heavyweight title – November, 1978
He is considered to be the first Samoan and Polynesian player to play in the NFL (Redskins in 1945)