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Phone call has Tony Moeaki now on brink of Super Bowl with Seahawks
RENTON — Tony Moeaki hadn’t played football since being cut by the Buffalo Bills in training camp. He was driving to his cousin’s rugby game in Chicago when he got a call from the Seattle Seahawks.
Moeaki had played two games the previous two years. He’s now playing a key role at tight end, both catching passes and blocking, for a team one game away from its second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
And he’s cherishing the opportunity.
“It’s a real blessing,” said Moeaki, a third-round pick in 2010 by the Kansas City Chiefs out of the University of Iowa. “They had such a great team when I got here, but just the past couple of months we’ve really just been playing for each other. It’s been really cool to be a part of.”
Moeaki was signed in early November more for his run-blocking presence with the Seahawks because starter Zach Miller is out for the season after ankle surgery. But Moeaki is averaging 16.8 yards per catch and has emerged as a reliable safety blanket for quarterback Russell Wilson in the passing game, too —with each of his past four catches resulting in first downs.
The Bills waived him in training camp after agreeing to an injury settlement and he was rehabbing the hamstring injury while living in Chicago.
Moeaki said he had been cleared to play for about a week and began working out for a couple teams, including the Seahawks. He was driving to meet his cousin, who was preparing to play for the USA Eagles (the U.S. rugby national team) team that night against New Zealand when he got a call from Seattle.
“It was just really exciting to get that call,” said Moeaki, who has eight catches in seven games.
“Obviously, when I first got here I was a bit rusty, and I think the coaches kind of anticipated that. But as I started feeling better, I was just doing whatever I could to help the team, whether that was blocking or catching or anything. I just try to make the most of every opportunity.”
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