**Laki Tasi** is a Samoan-Australian American football player who currently plays as a Guard for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).[1] Born on October 24, 2003, Tasi was born in Samoa and grew up in Brisbane, Australia, where he spent most of his life playing rugby.[1][2] Tasi's path to professional football was unconventional. At age 12, he began playing rugby league for the Goodna Eagles before transitioning to rugby union in high school.[1] Around 2022, a family friend suggested he consider American football, but Tasi was initially uninterested.[1] The friend renewed the suggestion in 2024, and Tasi decided to pursue it.[1] He enrolled in the NFL Academy in Gold Coast, Queensland, and in December 2024, he was selected for the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program.[1] This program provided him with structured training at the NFL Asia Pacific Academy and later at IMG Academy in Florida.[1] Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 348 pounds, Tasi initially trained as a defensive lineman but was moved to the offensive line following his rookie minicamp with the Raiders in May 2025.[2] After going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2025.[1] He was waived on August 26, 2025, during final roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[1] Tasi's rapid development impressed Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.[2] His journey exemplifies the International Player Pathway program's goal of providing international athletes, particularly those from Pacific Island backgrounds, with direct routes to professional American football.[6] Despite lacking traditional football experience compared to his teammates, Tasi has demonstrated determination and adaptability in learning the complexities of his new sport.