The late afternoon sun illuminated the field at Husky Stadium as Washington and Boise State began the 2023 season. With 5 minutes, 13 seconds left in the first quarter, Huatui Tuitele jogged out for his first action of the new season.
The junior defensive tackle from Hawaii was ready for a fresh start after overcoming the myriad injuries that had plagued him since high school.
Boise State, on second-and-7 from Washington's own 36-yard line, called for a run from tailback Ashton Gentry. Tuitele engaged the Broncos' right guard, drawing a double team and forcing Gentry to cut back to the left side.
That's when Tuitele felt his right hamstring pop. As he limped to the sideline, the reality of another injury layoff and rehab hit him.
“I was like, 'Wow, I don't think my body can hold on anymore,'” he said. “I literally got hurt on the first play of the first game.”
Tuitele publicly announced his decision to retire for medical reasons on January 10, two days after playing for Washington in the College Football Playoff Championship game against Michigan. But the Honolulu native decided to hang up his cleats long before the Huskies played the Wolverines.
Tuitele's hamstring injury against Boise State put his injury history into perspective. In early November, just before Washington's 52-42 win over USC, he told the coaching staff that he intended to retire after the season. Tuitele spent his final seven games contemplating his decision and saying goodbye to the match that defined his identity for much of his life.
He finished his 43-game career with 32 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, but still had one year of eligibility remaining.
“I didn't think I could hold out much longer,” he said.
Tuitele's injury history is extensive. He dislocated his left elbow during his senior year of high school and then relapsed during UW's 2021 spring football practice, requiring surgery. During his senior year at Hawaii Preps powerhouse St. Louis, he tore his left pectoralis major muscle.
He chose to play through the injury, and although he did not have the injury surgically repaired, he admitted that it affected his ability to build strength.
Arriving in Montlake did little to change Tuitele's injury fate. After his sophomore year, he underwent surgery on his left Achilles tendon, but it had no effect, and as a result Tuitele had to undergo revision surgery on his heel. He tore his right triceps during fall camp in 2022 and tore his meniscus and underwent surgery on his right knee late in the 2022 season.
He also missed time in Washington's 2023 fall camp due to a severe contusion to his tailbone that left him unable to assume a defensive position or even sit for several weeks.
The 6-foot-3 defensive lineman returned from a hamstring injury in time for Washington State's 59-32 win over California on September 23. Washington maintained a perfect record, beating Arizona, Oregon, Arizona State and Stanford, but Tuitele was plagued by inner turmoil as he began to consider his retirement.
“It's not an easy decision,” Tuitele said. “Nobody's going to walk away from the game that they love, the game that they've dedicated so much of the last 13 to 14 years of their lives to.”
It was difficult for Tuitele to consider retirement for several reasons. He was a highly touted four-star prospect and the highest-rated recruit in the University of Washington's 2019 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He was considered the 83rd best high school player in the nation, ranked ninth at his position, and was the top prospect in Hawaii.
He admitted that much of his early college career was spent proving he could star and live up to the hype. Tuitele distanced himself from recruiting rankings as he grew up, but his retirement from the sport likely meant facing those thoughts again.
Tuitele also watched the players he came to Wisconsin State with in 2019 translate their success at Montlake into NFL careers. Friends like Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. Like all college football players, Tuitele also dreamed of playing in the NFL since childhood. His retirement meant finding a new path and leaving his aspirations unfulfilled.
But what worried Tuitele most was the idea of telling his family about his decision. He was always proud to have his name on the back of his jersey, the Children of Mayor Wright Residence in Honolulu, and to represent his Polynesian culture. He knew the sacrifices his parents, Justin and Leutera Tuitele, made to support him and his sister while continuing to play youth football.
For weeks, Fatui Tuitele struggled with how to explain to them that she might quit the sport that had contributed so much to her pursuits.
“A lot of things were going through my head,” he said. “Football has really given me a huge opportunity to not only help myself but to help my parents and my family. I felt like I was letting it happen.”
But logically, he knew his career was over. A hamstring injury against Boise State was just a reminder that his body couldn't handle the wear and tear of another season.
But before he told the college coaching staff about his retirement, he had to tell his parents.
Justin Tuitele knew something was up. Usually when my eldest son called to check in, he spoke separately. This time, Faatui Tuitele asked if they were both available to answer the phone.
“At first he said he had something he wanted to tell us and that it was weighing heavily on his mind and heart,” Justin Tuitele said. “He said he didn't know what to say, so he just said what he said. And at that time, he told us all he was thinking about was quitting the spikes.”
Justin Tuitele admitted that he was shocked at first, but remembering all of his son's injuries and explaining all the setbacks that Huatui Tuitele had experienced made him realize he was making the right decision. It became clear.
Most importantly, despite Huatui Tuitele's concerns, his parents supported his decision 100%. They reassured him only that they knew what was right to do to protect themselves. They also said they are very grateful for everything his football career has allowed them to experience.
“He was like he was apologizing to us, so we were like, 'Hey, what are you trying to apologize for?'” Justin Tuitele said. “He felt like he was letting us down, and you know as parents we don't want our kids to feel that? We told him, 'No, you're trying your best. I've done my best,” he said.
“From his youth soccer days to the national championship, the journey has been a blessing.”
Fatui Tuitele told Washington defensive line coach Enoke Brectorfield that he plans to retire after the season and then play at USC. Aside from fellow defensive linemen and longtime teammates, 2019 recruits Nate Calepo and Alfonzo Tuputala, Tuitele chose to keep his decision a secret.
His impending retirement allowed Tuitele to focus on and enjoy the Huskies' historic run to the CFP Championship Game. He knew his final college game of the season would be the last of his career, so he was able to give everything he had to football.
He had two tackles and a pass breakup to help Washington escape in a 24-21 victory over Washington State in the Apple Cup on Nov. 25. In Washington State's 37-31 win over Texas in the CFP semifinals, Tuitele also knocked in a pass to put Washington on top. First Pac-12 school to win the Sugar Bowl. Tuitele recorded a tackle in the final game of his career, the CFP Championship Game.
“I didn't know if this was going to be my last game with the brothers, but that motivated me so much,” Tuitele said. Because, you know, I didn't have any football to worry about after this season, so I was like, “Well, there's no football for me after this, so I might as well give it everything I've got right now in each game.'' That's what I thought. After this you can relax, retire and rest your body. ”
Now that the season is over, Tuitele is figuring out how to proceed. For the first time in nearly 14 years, he doesn't have to think about the next conditioning session, the movie he needs to watch or whether his body will make it through another season. For now, he said, he does not intend to undergo surgery to repair his remaining injuries, as nothing currently causes him pain. Tuitele also wants to stay involved in soccer, perhaps as a coach or in team management.
Tuitele also plans to stay in Seattle, at least for the time being. After spending his first 18 years on the island, he said he is enjoying the colder climate. He was accepted into the University of California's one-year intercollegiate sports leadership graduate program in late February. He applied in early January, days before competing in the CFP Championship Game, at the urging of Washington's Director of Player Development Cam Elisara.
The program begins in June. Tuitele admitted he had no idea what he would do with his free time until then, but was happy to get his body back on track.
Sunday, March 10th is his birthday. He will be 23 years old.
Twitele is entering this new phase of her life with no regrets. He knows this is the right choice. He has no hard feelings about his decision to walk away from the game he loves.
He also has no hesitation regarding treatment decisions for injuries such as a torn left pectoral muscle. He cherishes the memories he made during his senior year of high school, along with each game he played for the Huskies.
Now he can finally rest.
“I've given it my all. I've given it my all in all the years I've played this great game,” Tuitele said.
