Colts’ Laiatu Latu: ‘I didn’t want to give up on football’

INDIANAPOLIS – Laiatu Latu heard the words but didn’t listen. Not even a little.

Your football career is over. Hey, you want to try your hand at coaching?

It was prior to the 2020 season and Washington’s sophomore edge pass rusher was experiencing lingering numbness in his neck from an injury sustained during preseason drills heading into the COVID-shortened season.

Washington officials refused to clear Latu to play.

“I was trying to fight with them because I didn’t think it was handled in the right way,’’ he said Friday at his new residence – the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.

School officials, Latu insisted, weren’t being receptive to his opinion on how things should be handled.

“What the doctors were telling me I didn’t agree with,’’ he said.

Instead of working with Latu to get him back on the field, Washington officials gauged his interest in coaching. He respectfully informed Ikaika Malloe, a member of the Huskies’ defensive staff, that wasn’t an option.

“I told coach Malloe I wanted to be able to play football again,’’ Latu said.

The school urged him to retire.

Latu turned to one of his bedrock sounding boards. That would be Kerry Latu, his mother.

“She told me, ‘What do you want to do?’’’ Latu said. “I told her I didn’t want to give up football. I really just had to have a different mindset about what I really wanted. I didn’t want to give up football.’’

And here we are.

Latu underwent cervical fusion surgery in March 2021. His mom’s research led him to distinguished neck specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, who cleared Latu to play for the Huskies.

“He just looked at my scans and cleared me,’’ he said. “Because he had guys with the same, similar stuff – like Danielle Hunter and Peyton Manning – and really just told me I would be able to play football.’’

Washington still didn’t budge, and Latu transferred to UCLA in January 2022.

The transfer was expedited by Malloe being named the Bruins’ outside linebackers coach. Latu immediately emerged: 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in two seasons.

Then, the storybook acceleration of Latu’s football arc.

*In Detroit for round 1 of Thursday’s NFL draft. At one point, Latu ran into Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin.

*The No. 15 overall selection by the Colts.

*The first defensive player off the board.

*Boarding owner Jim Irsay’s private jet Friday along with family members for the short flight to Indy.

The past 24 hours?

“Just super surreal,’’ Latu said. “It doesn’t feel real. When I woke up, I thought I was dreaming. I woke up a Colt. It’s a crazy experience.’’

Indy is the next stop on what has been a journey that’s been equal parts taxing and gratifying. Again, the University of Washington was convinced Latu’s football career was over.

“Yeah, it’s crazy when you say that because in this moment being the first defensive guy taken off the board, from 2 years, 2½ years ago not being able to play the sport,’’ he said. “I really have to give thanks to God. It’s just crazy looking back on it. I don’t dwell on the past; I’m all for the future and trying to make this program as great as it can be.”

Kerry Latu looked on from the side as her son tried to come to grips with what some considered to be an unlikely outcome. As the No. 15 overall pick, Latu is due a guaranteed four-year, $17.031 million contract with a $9.2 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.

“I never got down on myself,’’ he said. “I always believed I was going to work toward this.’’

During what he described as his “down time,’’ Latu evaluated game video of Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby and others.

“I was kind of taking certain moves no matter who it was,’’ he said. “I would try to emulate it in my game. Having football taken away – before having it taken away – I never took for granted football. I loved it so much. I looked up to my big brothers that were at U-Dub (Washington) and I tried to take after them. No one can be ready for that adversity like that. I just have a different appreciation for the game. I love every minute being out on that field.’’

This and that

For the record, Latu pronounces his first name lay-AH-too.

Also, Latu wore No. 15 at UCLA. What might he wear with the Colts? That jersey number currently belongs to veteran backup quarterback Joe Flacco.

“I don’t know which number,’’ he said. “I was hoping that I can ask Joe Flacco for 15, respectfully though. Respectfully.’’

Flacco was given No. 15, which was the number he wore in Cleveland last. Flacco’s prime number is 5, which he wore during the first 13 years of his career.

There’s no chance Flacco can switch to 5. That belongs to Anthony Richardson.

Interestingly, the Colts posted a picture on social media of Latu in a No. 15 jersey.

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51 .

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