Manti Te'o NFL Stats Overview
Manti Te'o recorded 378 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 12 interceptions over his NFL career, with his peak performance coming between 2013 and 2016. His 2013 season saw 82 tackles and 4 interceptions, which placed him among the top defensive rookies that year. He played for the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants, accumulating 10 starts in 2017 with the Giants. His career trajectory shows a steady defensive presence despite limited offensive production, with a career passer rating against of 89.6 across 49 games started. Te'o's durability was notable, as he missed only 4 games due to injury between 2013 and 2016, a factor that kept his per-game value high for fantasy managers. His coverage stats, including 32 passes defensed, reflect his role as a hybrid safety-linebacker in multiple defensive schemes. Te'o's final NFL snap count came in Week 17 of the 2017 season, after which he transitioned to a private career outside professional football. The financial implications of his contract, which totaled roughly $3.1 million in guaranteed money, remain a case study in rookie deal management. For the latest official stats, visit nfl.com.
Te'o's per-game averages of 5.8 tackles and 0.13 interceptions highlight his efficiency as a rotational defender rather than a high-usage starter. His coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus, ranked in the 62nd percentile among linebackers in 2014, a period when he started 13 games. The Chargers drafted him 38th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft, a selection that reflected his college production at Notre Dame, where he recorded 322 tackles over four seasons. His NFL career earnings, including base salary and bonuses, totaled approximately $5.4 million before his departure from the league. Te'o's market value as a free agent peaked in 2014, when his projected three-year deal value reached $18 million, though he ultimately signed a one-year tender with the Chargers. His transition to the Vikings in 2017 saw a reduced role, with only 2 starts in 10 games, which compressed his final contract value. The Giants signed him to a one-year, $855,000 deal in 2017, a figure that aligned with his late-career production metrics. Te'o's career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is estimated at 1.2 wins, placing him in the bottom quartile of all drafted linebackers. This statistical profile informs how teams now evaluate hybrid defenders in the second and third rounds.
Financial Impact and Contract Analysis
Rookie Deal Structure and Cap Impact
Te'o's four-year rookie contract with the Chargers included a $1.6 million signing bonus and a 2017 fifth-year option exercised at a cost of $8.7 million. The cap hit for his 2017 option year was $8.7 million, which ranked 14th among all linebackers that season. His base salary progression was $538,000 in 2013, $1.35 million in 2014, $2.16 million in 2015, and $2.97 million in 2016, reflecting standard rookie scale increases. The total guaranteed money across his first three years was $1.6 million, with the fifth-year option adding another $8.7 million in guarantees. This structure limited the Chargers' cap flexibility but protected them from injury risk, a common approach for late-round