Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons²

Penei Sewell

Offensive Tackle, Detroit Lions · #58.

Player facts

Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Offensive Tackle
Number: 58
Born: Oct 9, 2000 (age 26)
Birthplace: Malaeimi, American Samoa
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 335 lbs
College: Oregon
Experience: 6 seasons
Status: Active

About

Penei Elama Sewell ( pen-NAY; born October 9, 2000) is an American Samoan professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, winning the Outland and Morris trophies in 2019. Sewell was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Lions in the first round in the 2021 NFL draft. He earned four Pro Bowl selections from 2022 to 2025, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He is the brother of Nephi and Noah Sewell, who both have also played professional football.

From Wikipedia’s article on Penei Sewell, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Penei Elama Sewell was born on October 9, 2000, in Malaeimi, a village in American Samoa near the capital of Pago Pago. As a child, he began playing American football alongside his three brothers after his father Gabriel became a coach of the sport. Seeing the potential for his children to make it to the National Football League (NFL), Gabriel moved his family to St. George, Utah in 2012. There, Sewell attended and played football at Desert Hills High School. As a senior in 2017, he played in the US Army All-American and Polynesian Bowls before committing to the University of Oregon to play college football for the Oregon Ducks.

College career

Sewell became an immediate starter during his freshman year for the Ducks in 2018, starting seven games but missing six due to a high ankle sprain. He returned in 2019 and won the Morris Trophy and Outland Trophy. In addition, he and former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were selected as co-recipients of the 2019 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. Sewell opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the 2021 NFL draft.

Personal life

Sewell has three brothers: Gabriel, Nephi, and Noah, who are all professional football linebackers. Gabriel plays for the Houston Roughnecks in the United Football League, Nephi and Noah play for the Chicago Bears. The brothers are nephews of former NFL players Isaac Sopoaga and Richard Brown.

Sewell is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sewell met his wife, Isabelle, at the University of Oregon who was a cheerleader when they first met. They started socially dating in 2020 and were married in 2024.

From Wikipedia’s article on Penei Sewell, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹