Isaac Sopoaga has one of the most storybook career arcs in professional sports. The American Samoa native spent his childhood playing rugby against grown men and wasn't introduced to American football until his junior year in high school.
The bruising defensive lineman joined the Rainbow Warriors after two seasons in junior college where he became one of the country's top recruits, fielding offers from powerhouse programs like Nebraska, Miami, and USC. He played 11 NFL seasons, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers, and earned a reputation as one of the strongest players in the sport. In this episode, he talks about falling in love with Hawaii, playing in a Super Bowl, and a record-setting showing at the NFL Combine.
July 20th, 2026, 10:30 pm
The Long Game with Mark Carpenter
Isaac Sopoaga
00:00
1h 9m
Published July 20th, 2026, 10:30 pm
Description
Isaac Sopoaga has one of the most storybook career arcs in professional sports. The American Samoa native spent his childhood playing rugby against grown men and wasn't introduced to American football until his junior year in high school.
The bruising defensive lineman joined the Rainbow Warriors after two seasons in junior college where he became one of the country's top recruits, fielding offers from powerhouse programs like Nebraska, Miami, and USC. He played 11 NFL seasons, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers, and earned a reputation as one of the strongest players in the sport. In this episode, he talks about falling in love with Hawaii, playing in a Super Bowl, and a record-setting showing at the NFL Combine.
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The Long Game with Mark Carpenter
In "The Long Game" video podcast, Mark Carpenter sits down with influential figures across the Hawaii sports community. Whether it's going down memory lane with former athletes who've ascended to the heights of their craft or meeting rising up-and-comers eager to build their legacies, this series will dive into their careers and lessons learned while having fun along the way.
