Senate resolution honors Commanders Coach

NFL Washington Commanders Quarterback Coach Tavita Liumotumotuaanaileafi Pritchard Jr. has been honored with a  Senate resolution that pays tribute to his remarkable career in the NFL.

He played quarterback for the Stanford University Cardinals  from 2006 to 2009. After graduating from Stanford with a degree in Communications, he worked as a volunteer assistant coach for Stanford until he was officially hired as a defensive assistant coach for his alma mater. He, later, moved on to coach running backs, and was then promoted to the position of quarterbacks/wide received coach before assuming the role of offensive coordinator.

Among the notable players that he coached are NFL players Davis Mills of the Houston Texans and Kevin Hogan of the Kansas City Chiefs. In February of 2023, he was hired by the NFL Washington Commanders as their quarterback coach.

Pritchard attended Thursday’s Senate session where the resolution honoring him was approved.  Joined by his two sisters, Sina and Krista, he happily received a copy of the resolution, which was presented by Senators Gaoteote Palaie and Senator Olo Uluao Letuli, who sponsored the measure.

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(Transc.) Gaoteote: On behalf of all the senators, Tavita, God bless you. You make us proud and I really thank you for your contribution. ‘Cause your contribution is very important. Important to our people. Just like Mr. President said—one of the Samoan sayings he mentioned today—Toloa e lele ae maau I le vai. No matter where a Samoan goes, they always have to come back to Samoa.

Pritchard expressed his appreciation for being accorded such an honor and shared his pride in being a Samoan.

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(Transc.) Pritchard: This trip for myself personally, feels like it’s been a long time coming and, the saying that you just brought up that that, Samoans find their way back home. That’s what it feels like being here from the time that my feet touch the ground off the plane. This jsut felt like home. And I’m extremely proud of my Samoan heritage. It is no doubt the reason, a big part of the reason that I’ve had the success that I’ve had, although that I didn’t grow up on the island, the family that I grew up in and that loved me and supported me, the fa’aSamoa was very present in our house. And, I think of themes like, humility and respect, hard work and community. That’s what I grew up with.