10-02-2025
Muasau looking to build off of strong finish to rookie season with Giants
With the Lombardi Trophy now settled, the 2024 NFL season is officially in the books. That also means the grind for 2025 is already underway, and among those wasting no time in preparation is New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau.
The Mililani graduate is back home in the islands following a strong finish to his rookie season. Selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Muasau made the most of his opportunities down the stretch, recording 41 tackles over his final five games. For the former University of Hawaii and UCLA standout, that late-season surge was the confidence boost he needed heading into the offseason.
'That was a big confidence booster, you know, just proving to myself that I can play at this level,' Muasau said. 'This is what I was built for, what I prepared for my whole life. And I stepped up. That's what the NFL is all about—you're playing against the best of the best every week. It's about earning the trust of my teammates, the coaches, and the staff, and putting on display what I can do while being productive at the same time.'
Muasau acknowledges that the transition from college to the NFL brought a steep learning curve, with the biggest adjustment being the need to approach everything as a professional.
'I would say learning how to become a pro—that's the difference from high school to college and from college to the league. Now it's really about being professional in everything you do,' Muasau explained. 'Attacking every day with a growth mindset, because every week, we're playing the best of the best. It's all about the minute details. If you miss an assignment on a few plays, that could be your job.'
The business side of the NFL was also a wake-up call.
'I've had so many teammates come and go. That's just the reality of the league—it's a dog-eat-dog mentality. That's probably what I learned the most: how to be a pro,' he said.
Off the field, Muasau is adjusting to life beyond football as well.
'Now I'm learning how to become an adult. I've got taxes coming up in April—there's just so much hitting me right now, transitioning from college to the league,' he added with a laugh.
While some players opt for high-end training facilities in the offseason, Muasau is sticking to the methods that got him to the NFL—training in the environment that shaped him.
'Yeah, exactly what you're saying—this is what got me here,' he said. 'What got me to the league in the first place was this island. Just the natural workouts, going back to our old iron workouts, those rusted benches, those rusted weights. Going back to the beach, doing the sand workouts. If it worked for me up to this point, why break it?'
Muasau plans to spend most of the offseason on Oahu, training alongside former teammates and fellow NFL players from Hawaii. He'll report to the Giants' mini-camp in early May, ready to build on the momentum of his rookie campaign.
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