Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Hercules Mata'afa was born on September 18th, 1995, in Lahaina, Hawaii, and currently plays defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL.

Mata’afa attended Lahainaluna High School and played college football at Washington State University.

During high school, Mata’afa as a sophomore earned All-Maui Interscholastic League second team. As a junior, he was named All-MIL First Team after tallying 64 tackles including 12.5 sacks.

Mata’afa played for the Washington State University football team from 2014 to 2017. As a freshman in 2015, Mata’afa played in all 13 games, totaling 32 tackles, 11.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. As a sophomore in 2016, Mata’afa was named to watch lists for the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award and Polynesian College Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 Conference Second Team, All-Pac-12 First Team by Pro Football Focus. He was fifth in the Pac-12 with 13.5 tackles-for-loss and a team-high five sacks and seventh on the team with 47 tackles. As a junior in 2017, Mata'afa was a consensus All-American and was named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. He was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. On December 31, 2017, Mata'afa declared his intention to enter the 2018 NFL Draft.

Mata'afa signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2018. He was signed back to the Vikings for the 2019 preseason.