Former New Jersey Generals defensive lineman Hercules Mata’afa announced his retirement on Wednesday according to Pro Football Newsroom’s James Larsen.
Hercules Mata’afa is six foot two and weighs 252 pounds. The 28-year-old from Lahaina, Hawaii, was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft.
Before Birmingham, Mata’afa signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played 19 games for the Vikings, making one start with 25 tackles (13 solo, 12 assists), four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble. After Minnesota, he spent time with the Washington Football Team and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The New Jersey Generals signed Mata’afa as a free agent on May 18, 2022, and placed him on the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on June 1, 2022. Mata’afa made three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist) in four games for the Generals. In the playoffs against the Philadelphia Stars, Mata’afa made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist), one tackle for loss, and one sack.
In 2023, Mata’afa made 25 tackles (16 solo, 9 assists), six tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Generals in 2023.
Collegiately, Mata’afa played three seasons at Washington State (2015-17) with 86 tackles (64 solo, 22 assists), 33 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 28 games for the Cougars.
He was named First Team All-Pac 12 in 2017, Second Team All-Pac 12 in 2016, Pac-12 Defensive Player of The Year in 2017, All-American in 2017, and Polynesian Football Player of the Year in 2017.
