Moliki Matavao

NFL CAREER – With their first seventh round selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, New Orleans added this versatile tight end out of UCLA. In six games during his rookie campaign with two starts, he recorded two catches for ten yards and served as a primary blocker both on offense and special teams. The second year pro will look to take a bigger role on offense under second-year Head Coach Kellen Moore and building chemistry with QB Tyler Shough.

NFL CAREER – With their first seventh round selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, New Orleans added this versatile tight end out of UCLA. In six games during his rookie campaign with two starts, he recorded two catches for ten yards and served as a primary blocker both on offense and special teams. The second year pro will look to take a bigger role on offense under second-year Head Coach Kellen Moore and building chemistry with QB Tyler Shough.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to active roster, 12/26/25; Gameday elevation (standard) off the practice squad, 12/20/25; Signed to the practice squad, 10/7/25; Waived, 10/4/25; Re-signed, 9/23/25; Waived, 9/20/25; Signed to a four-year contract, 5/9/25; Selected in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

2025 – Appeared in six games during his rookie season with two starts in the final two contests, posting two catches for ten yards. Also served as a key member of the special teams blocking units…Made his NFL debut vs. Arizona, Sept. 7…Rotated in on offense and played on special teams vs. San Francisco, Sept. 14…Rotated in at FB and played on special teams at Buffalo, Sept. 28…Rotated in on offense and played on special teams vs. New York Jets, Dec. 21…Made his first career NFL start and played on special teams, recording his first two career catches for ten yards at Tennessee, Dec. 28…Started and played on special teams in the season finale at Atlanta, 1/4/26.

COLLEGE – In four seasons at Oregon (2021-22) and UCLA (2023-24), started 22-of-50 games and logged 74 receptions for 998 yards (13.5 avg.) and six scores. In 2024, led the Bruins in receiving in 11 games with eight starts, finishing with 41 grabs for 506 yards with two TDs…Had six receptions for 104 yards (17.3 avg.) at Rutgers…Hauled in seven passes for 68 yards and a score at Washington…Caught two passes for 15 yards and with TD vs. USC…Recorded season-highs of eight grabs and 120 receiving yards (15.0 avg.) vs. Fresno State…In 2023, appeared in 13 contests with six starts and posted 14 receptions for 283 yards (20.2 avg.) and two TDs in first season at UCLA…Recorded a 35-yard grab at San Diego State…Hauled in season-highs in receptions (three) and yards (76) vs. Washington State…Added a 20-yard TD reception at Stanford…Posted a 26-yard TD catch at Colorado…In 2022, played in all 12 regular season games with six starts for Oregon, adding ten receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown, adding a rushing score…Recorded a ten-yard catch and three-yard rushing TD at Arizona…Caught two passes for 26 yards and a TD at Colorado…In 2021, played in all 14 games with two starts as a true freshman, adding nine receptions for 75 yards with a TD…Graduated with sociology degree.

PERSONAL – Consensus four-star recruit and top six tight end nationally…Prepped at Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) HS and played in the All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl in 2021…Finished his high school career with 64 receptions for 1,045 yards (16.3 avg.) with 12 touchdowns…Rode in the Krewe of Pygmalion Mardi Gras parade with several of his teammates…Born on March 17, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nev.