Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. Photo: AFP
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year Award.
The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame says the award recognizes the most outstanding professional football player of Polynesian ancestry.
Mariota was born in Honolulu and is of Samoan ancestry.
He is in his second NFL season out of the University of Oregon, where he became the first player of Polynesian ancestry to win the Heisman trophy.
This year, Mariota helped lead the Tennessee Titans to a 9-7 regular season record.
"On behalf of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors, we congratulate Mariota on a fantastic season," said Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman Jesse Sapolu.
"He is a tremendous role model and a source of great pride for Polynesians everywhere," he said.
The formal presentation of the award will be held at the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration dinner on January 20.
