New Zealand-born Tongan, George Holani, made his Super Bowl LX debut yesterday, 9 February 2026, at the Levi Stadium, San Francisco - where his team the Seattle Seahawks emerged champions - defeating the New England Patriots 29-13.
The Super Bowl is the annual American football game that determines the champion of the National Football League (NFL) and among the top-ten world's most-watched sporting events.
Running back, Holani is one of a number of outstanding players of Pacific islands descent to play in the NFL in the United States,
Holani was born in Auckland New Zealand to Tongan parents Saia Holani and Atelaite Holani, and lived in Onehunga before his family migrated to the United States, where as a child he pursued his athletic ability. With his determination and hard work he suceeded.
His father Saia Holani told reporters that he was very proud of his son, one of 11 children in the family.
"It's unexplainable for me, I sort of think about it and all the sacrifice that I've been through and you know, all the hardship and the struggle we've been through.
"And I looked at him and I'm really, really proud, because he was never, can't imagine for me to have a son to come and play here in this stage of football." Saia Holani told RNZ.
Geroge has always been proud of his Tongan culture and wore a traditional Ta’ovala with a full Tongan Puletaha when he arrived at the San Francisco’s Levi’s stadium, his reminder of where he comes from.
New England Patriots
Another NFL player of Tongan heritage, 29‑year‑old defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, also played his first-ever Super Bowl at the weekend against the Seahawks.
