Esera Tuaolo Biography
Esera Tuaolo played in the NFL for 9 consecutive seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons (1998 NFC Championship winning team) and the Carolina Panthers. He was the first Rookie in Packer history to start all 16 games and was a member of the 1991 all-rookie team. In his career, he recorded 200 tackles, 12 sacks, and 1 interception. In college, he was the Morris Trophy winner in 1989, given to the best defensive player in the Pac-10. He was a member of the all-Pac-10 team in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
Born on Oahu Island in Hawaii, Tuaolo grew up on a small banana farm as the youngest of eight children. In order to get better exposure as a football player, he moved to California when he was in high school. College recruiters immediately noticed him, and he went to play for Oregon State University after graduating. In 1990, the Green Bay Packers drafted Tuaolo with the 35th pick—the highest an OSU defensive player had ever been taken. In what is traditionally a humiliating initiation ritual at Green Bay’s training camp, all rookies are required to sing a song to their teammates before being allowed to take a place at the table for dinner. Tuaolo’s rousing version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” led him to be the first player ever to perform the national anthem at a nationally televised game.
In 2002, Tuaolo publicly came out as gay. He had always felt forced to hide his sexuality as a gay man in the hyper-masculine culture of professional football. The secret crippled him, leading him to drink excessively and even contemplate suicide. It also hindered his football performance; he felt that if he were too good a player he would be exposed as a homosexual. He led a double life that deeply depressed him, but which he now looks back on with a new perspective. During this difficult time, he persevered by following his mother’s example and maintaining a strong sense of faith.
After retiring from professional football Tuaolo became fed up with pretending to “be straight.” He publicly announced his sexuality on HBO Real Sports, an experience he describes as “taking off a costume I’ve been wearing all my life.” One of only three former NFL players to ever “come out,” he has received huge amounts of support from old teammates, the media, friends, and family. Since coming out in 2002, Tuaolo has been speaking to schools and corporations about the pervasiveness of homophobia in sports and business, helping organizational leaders understand how to create a safe environment for members and employees.
Tuaolo’s autobiographical account, "Alone in the Trenches: My Life As a Gay Man in the NFL," with John Rosengren, explores the compelling tale of a dirt-poor Samoan immigrant who won a football scholarship to Oregon State, played in the Super Bowl and then made a life-changing decision that ultimately saved his life, his family, and his Christianity. Tuaolo’s story also exposes the behind-the-scenes world of professional football from what happens on the field to locker room antics. He has also shared his experiences on popular platforms like "Weekend Edition Sunday" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Tuaolo is now a successful recording artist, who has performed the National Anthem at professional sporting events and was a finalist on season 13 of The Voice, being part of Team Blake. He also continues to give back through his involvement in various charitable endeavors and is an Executive Chef at Seven Ultra Lounge, a Sushi and Steak House restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Esera Tuaolo and other top speakers and celebrities.
Esera Tuaolo Videos
How do I book Esera Tuaolo to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Esera Tuaolo for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Esera Tuaolo, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Esera Tuaolo or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Esera Tuaolo for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Esera Tuaolo, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Esera Tuaolo are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Esera Tuaolo, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Esera Tuaolo speak about?
Esera Tuaolo is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Football, College, Inspirational, Olympic Athlete, Diversity & Inclusion, Personal Growth, Hispanic Heritage, LGBTQ, Black History Month, Asian & Pacific Heritage, Sports, Athlete, Music, Food & Beverage, Overcoming Adversity, Motivational, Business and Social Activism.
Where does Esera Tuaolo travel from?
Esera Tuaolo generally travels from Minnesota, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Esera Tuaolo?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Esera Tuaolo for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Esera Tuaolo for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Esera Tuaolo or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Esera Tuaolo is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Football, College and Inspirational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Esera Tuaolo for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Esera Tuaolo generally travels from Minnesota, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Linda Alvarado, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado and Lizzie Velasquez. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Esera Tuaolo for an upcoming event.
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Esera Tuaolo Videos
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Augusta University - Sep 19 2018
FAQS
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How do I book Esera Tuaolo to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Esera Tuaolo for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Esera Tuaolo, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Esera Tuaolo or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Esera Tuaolo for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Esera Tuaolo, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Esera Tuaolo are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Esera Tuaolo, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Esera Tuaolo speak about?
Esera Tuaolo is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Football, College, Inspirational, Olympic Athlete, Diversity & Inclusion, Personal Growth, Hispanic Heritage, LGBTQ, Black History Month, Asian & Pacific Heritage, Sports, Athlete, Music, Food & Beverage, Overcoming Adversity, Motivational, Business and Social Activism. -
Where does Esera Tuaolo travel from?
Esera Tuaolo generally travels from Minnesota, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Esera Tuaolo?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Esera Tuaolo for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Esera Tuaolo for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Esera Tuaolo or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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