Brandon Manumaleuna Brandon Michael Manumaleuna ( ; born January 4 , 1980 in Torrance , California ) is an American football tight end / fullback who is currently a free agent . He was drafted by the St . Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft . He played college football at Arizona . Manumaleuna has also played for the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears . Early years . Manumaleuna is of Samoan and African - American descent . He attended Narbonne High School in Harbor City , California . While at Narbonne High he was selected Second - team All - State as a defensive lineman . He also lettered in basketball and track . College career . Manumaleuna attended the University of Arizona from 1997 - 2000 , where he was a Second - team All - Pac - 10 as a junior . While at Arizona he majored in political science . Manumaleuna began his play at Arizona as a defensive lineman and made the switch to tight end and H - back . He finished his collegiate career with 40 receptions for 544 yards and three touchdowns . Professional career . St . Louis Rams . Manumaleuna was selected in the fourth round ( 129 overall ) of the 2001 NFL Draft by the St . Louis Rams . He signed with the team on June 21 , 2001 . He agreed to a three - year $ 1 . 15 million contract including a $ 255 , 000 signing bonus . In 2001 , Manumaleuna only had one reception on the season . He made his first career reception , a one - yard touchdown , against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . In 2002 , Manumaleuna recorded eight receptions on the season for 106 yards and one touchdown . Manumaleuna recorded two receptions against the San Francisco 49ers , San Diego Chargers , and Kansas City Chiefs . He had a season - high 38 receiving yards against the Chargers . He recorded his lone touchdown reception in the season - finale against the 49ers . In 2003 , Manumaleuna had a career year , with highs in receptions ( 29 ) yards ( 238 ) and touchdowns ( two ) . Manumaleuna recorded a season - long reception of 39 yards against the Atlanta Falcons . He finished that game with a career - high 56 yards receiving . Manumaleuna recorded a season - high four receptions against the Green Bay Packers . He scored his first touchdown of the season on a four yard pass at the Chicago Bears . Manumaleuna recorded his second touchdown of the season on an eight - yard pass at the Detroit Lions . On March 12 , 2004 , Manumaleuna signed a five - year , $ 8 . 3 million offer sheet with the Carolina Panthers which the Rams matched four days later . In 2004 , Manumaleuna recorded 15 receptions for 174 yards and one touchdown . Manumaleuna recorded a season - high three receptions for 33 yards and an eight yard touchdown catch at the Seattle Seahawks . He also recorded three receptions for a season high 53 yards against the New England Patriots . Manumaleuna recorded career long 48 yard reception against the Patriots as well . In 2005 , Manumaleuna recorded 13 receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown . Manumaleuna recorded a six - yard touchdown catch in the season opener at the San Francisco 49ers . He was inactive for weeks four and five because of a knee injury . Manumaleuna recorded season highs with three receptions for 51 yards in Seattle , which included a season long 33 yard reception . He recorded a 29 yard receptions in the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys . San Diego Chargers . On April 30 , 2006 , Manumaleuna was trade d by the St . Louis Rams to the San Diego Chargers for a fourth - round pick . In 2006 , Manumaleuna recorded 14 receptions for 91 yards and three touchdowns . Manumaleuna recorded a season high four receptions and his first touchdown reception of the season during week six at the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium . He recorded a touchdown reception on a halfback option pass from LaDanian Tomlinson , in the season opening win at the Oakland Raiders . Manumaleuna had an extensive role in blocking for a 216 yard , three touchdown rushing day against the Rams . He had a hand in the Chargers ' win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a career high two touchdown receptions . The first of which was for nine yards and the second was on a third - and - five play late in the fourth quarter . Manumaleuna recorded two receptions against the Denver Broncos was a run after a reception in which he broke several tackles and lost his helmet en route to a 19 yard gain on third - and - seven in the late second quarter . In 2007 , Manumaleuna recorded 10 receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown . Manumaleuna recorded one reception for four yards during the season opener against the Chicago Bears . During week six he recorderd two receptions for 18 yards against the Oakland Raiders . In week eight against the Houston Texans , Manumaleuna recorded one reception for two yards . During week nine at the Minnesota Vikings , he recorded two receptions for 13 yards . In week 12 , Manumaleuna recorded one reception for zero yards , against the Baltimore Ravens . The next week at the Kansas City Chiefs he recorded two catches for 48 yards . His 40 - yard catch was his longest catch since 2004 . During week 15 against the Detroit Lions , Manumaleuna recorded one reception for one yard and one touchdown on a pass from quarterback Philip Rivers . He recorded two receptions for 18 yards against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card game . He then recorded one reception for three yards in the AFC Divisional Championship game . In 2008 he played 16 games , starting 11 , and caught 15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns . The following year he played in 16 games with 5 starts and caught 5 passes for thirteen yards . Chicago Bears . On March 5 , 2010 , Manumaleuna signed a five - year $ 15 million deal ( $ 6 . 1 guaranteed ) contract with the Chicago Bears on the first day of free agency . He was released on July 28 , 2011 , after one season in Chicago . Personal . Manumaleuna means " Bird of Paradise " . Manumaleuna ’ s off - the - field interests include playing basketball and spending time with his family . He is a second - generation NFL player . His father , Frank Manumaleuna , played linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1979 - 1981 . Frank played at UCLA in the early 1970s . Brandon showed early signs of following in his father ’ s footsteps . At the age of 11 , he won the NFL ’ s Punt , Pass , and Kick Competition . Manumaleuna is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints .