The AA+PI athletes making us proud in the NFL playoffs
These Asian American and Pacific Islander athletes will play a big role on their teams as they strive toward Super Bowl LX
From left, Zach Charbonnet, Henry To’oTo’o, Khyiris Tonga, Puka Nacua, Talanoa Hufanga, Ka’imi Fairbairn, and AJ Epenesa.
Photo illustration by Ryan Quan
Words by Quin Scott
The 2025-26 NFL regular season was one of the most exciting in years, and last weekend’s wild card round continued that trend. Now that the dust has settled, fans are left with a wide-open slate of matchups for the divisional round this weekend. Eight teams will vie to stay alive for a shot at making Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California and several of those teams will be counting on contributions from key AA+PI players to win.
Here are six AA+PI players to watch in the NFL playoffs:
Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
The Hawaiian and Samoan Puka Nacua is definitely the best player on this list, and definitely the most controversial! A fifth-round draft pick out of Brigham Young University in 2023, Nacua has quickly cemented himself as one of the best receivers in football. Physical, sure handed, and a skillful route runner, he led the league in receptions and yards per game this season, leading an explosive offense for the Los Angeles Rams alongside quarterback and MVP favorite Matthew Stafford.
Nacua has made other unfortunate headlines of late, publicly criticizing officials twice (kind of okay) and making an antisemitic gesture on a Twitch stream (not okay). He apologized for the gesture, explaining he had no idea what it meant. Here’s hoping Nacua has a great playoffs and an offseason of learning and self-reflection.
Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks)
Zach Charbonnet, whose mother is Cambodian and Chinese, has been a crucial contributor in the running game for the Seattle Seahawks, the number one seed in the NFC and current favorites to win the Super Bowl. Charbonnet forms a dynamic duo in the Seahawks’ backfield with Kenneth Walker III, as Walker provides more of a big-play threat, while Charbonnet thrives as a short-yardage option.
This has proved particularly important in goal-line situations, with Charbonnet scoring 12 rushing touchdowns this season. The Seahawks will hope he can continue that production into the postseason to take some pressure off of quarterback Sam Darnold and the stingy Seahawk defense.
Talanoa Hufanga (Denver Broncos)
The Tongan American Talanoa Hufanga has thrived in his first season with the Denver Broncos, forming a formidable secondary alongside safety Brandon Jones and shutdown cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Hufanga earned second-team All-Pro honors for leading the Broncos to the number one seed in the AFC, largely on the strength of their defense. Hufanga will have a great test in the first round, facing off against the Buffalo Bills and their superstar quarterback Josh Allen.
Khyiris Tonga (New England Patriots)
Khyiris Tonga, who is Tongan American, has played a major role in the New England Patriots’ resurgence this season with his versatility, stopping the run as a defensive tackle and even stepping in as a blocker to bolster the running game on offense. He has been sidelined for the past four games with a foot injury, and his availability will certainly be a key factor in whether the Patriots have the interior depth for a long playoff run. About Tonga, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said, “That's a guy that plays on three phases—helped us win defensively, helped us win offensively, and then goes out there and stands in the way of three guys on the field goal protection unit…He is a key part of a group effort.”
AJ Epenesa (Buffalo Bills)
The Samoan American AJ Epenesa is able to step in and offer the Buffalo Bills some helpful minutes in their defensive end rotation. The Bills and Epenesa are considered to be a dark-horse contender; they haven’t had the best season, but they have the aforementioned Allen, who many consider to be the best quarterback in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Bills are missing their injured star safety, the Chinese American Taylor Rapp. Both Rapp and Epenesa carry their heritage and values with pride.
"I tried a lot to learn about my culture and about the people from the island," Epenesa has said in an article for the Bills. "That's where my dad's from. That's where he was born and raised. And he did the best he could to give us knowledge about what it's like back home, the values and the morals that we have and just the way that we go about life. So, I try to hold those near and dear because those are things I try to be like in my life."
In that same article, Rapp said, "I learned it at a very young age from my mom and then my grandparents, who are her parents, just being rooted in Chinese values. It's about knowing where you come from, what you started from, being humble, being kind and a good person."
Ka’imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans)
Full disclosure, the Hawaii-born Ka’imi Fairbairn was a stalwart on my fantasy football team this year, so I am a big fan. Fairbairn tied the NFL record for most field goals in a season this past year, and he is particularly important to a Texans team that has a suffocating defense (featuring Samoan Tongan linebacker Henry To’oTo’o), but can struggle to generate points on offense. Look for the Texans to get into some low-scoring, physical games these playoffs, and don’t be surprised if it comes down to a game-winner from Fairbairn.
Henry To’oTo’o (Houston Texans)
The aforementioned To’oTo’o is an important member of a swarming, fearsome Texans defense. The linebacker racked up 95 tackles in the regular season, and the team will need his production to make up for their inconsistent offense. To’oTo’o sees his Polynesian heritage as a strong influence on his performance, saying, “I come from the Polynesian culture, and physicality is part of it. So if you’re Samoan and Tongan and you’re not physical, there’s something wrong with you!”
Published on January 16, 2026
Words by Quin Scott
Quin Scott is a writer, painter, and educator in the Pacific Northwest. They like reading, running, and making jokes with their friends.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is JoySauce's social media manager, associate editor, and all-around visual eye. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans, and check out his work on his website.