Steve Tu’ikolovatu, defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has revealed that he and his wife once lived out of a SUV, a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban, near a beach in California for two months.

Tu’ikolovatu decided to live out of his car last year, after he moved from his home in Utah to Los Angeles to play college football for the University of Southern California (USC). He moved to California two months before he could be officially enrolled at USC and because he was not enrolled, he was not entitled to receive housing benefits from the University.

Tu’ikolovatu told the Tampa Bay Times, “It was normal in a lot of ways. We went to church every Sunday. But no one had any idea we were living in the car.”

His wife, Kalo recounted "We'd visit friends and they'd see the blankets and ask us, 'You're not sleeping in that thing, are you?' We'd say no, of course not."

Tu’ikolovatu said that he and his wife could have stayed with relatives, but decided to maintain their independence.

“I don’t like to bother people, make a hassle. I’m kind of independent,”

“I also understand that when you have struggles, there are also lessons. It teaches you not to be selfish. It teaches you not to take life so seriously. It teaches you how to love.”

Today his four year Total Contract Value is reportedly worth at least USD $2,490,892