JUST HOURS AFTER PLAYING THE GAME HE LOVED, 16-YEAR-OLD DEEJAY TUIASOSOPO WAS KILLED IN A TRAGIC 𝔠r𝘢sh

A promising young football player from a family with deep NFL roots has lost his life at just 16 years old, leaving teammates, friends and loved ones devastated.

Deejay Tuiasosopo had dreams of becoming a state champion. He was only beginning his journey with the Federal Way High School Eagles in Washington state, where he played running back and linebacker while wearing jersey No. 56.

But on Friday night, October 23, 2026, those dreams were tragically cut short.

Hours after playing in a football game, Deejay was standing on a sidewalk near Pacific Highway South and South 304th Street when a vehicle struck him following a collision involving two cars.

Police responded at approximately 10:48 p.m. Emergency responders attempted to save the teenager, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A DRIVER ARRESTED AFTER THE diᩚadℓy 𝔠r𝘢sh

According to Federal Way police, two vehicles collided at an intersection before one left the roadway and struck Deejay, who was standing nearby on the sidewalk.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide. The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have not been established as proven facts.

For Deejay’s family and teammates, the loss of such a young life has been devastating.

 “HE HAD DREAMS”

Deejay was in his first season with the Federal Way Eagles and was expected to graduate in 2028.

His teammate David Rodriguez spoke about the dreams Deejay had been working toward, including the hope of becoming a state champion.

“The fact he can’t do that, that’s just, it just feels sad,” Rodriguez said.

Those words capture the heartbreak felt by people who knew Deejay — a teenager whose future was still unfolding, with goals he hoped to achieve and memories he had yet to make.

A FAMILY WITH A REMARKABLE SPORTING LEGACY

Deejay came from a family with a long history in professional and collegiate sports.

His great-uncle, Manu Tuiasosopo, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He later played for the San Francisco 49ers and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XIX in January 1985.

Manu’s son, Marques Tuiasosopo, became the most valuable player of the 2001 Rose Bowl after leading the University of Washington to victory. He later played quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

Other relatives have also made their mark in sports, including Zach Tuiasosopo, who spent time on NFL practice squads; Leslie Gabriel, who became head coach of the University of Washington women’s volleyball team; and Matt Tuiasosopo, a former Major League Baseball player.

Deejay was building his own path, hoping to carry forward that sporting tradition in his own way.

 A COMMUNITY GATHERS TO REMEMBER NO. 56

On Saturday, friends, family members, teammates and community members gathered near the 𝔠r𝘢sh site for a vigil in Deejay’s memory.

Flowers, balloons, candles and handwritten tributes were left at the intersection where his life ended.

Among the memorials were tributes featuring the numbers five and six — a poignant reminder of the jersey number he wore on the football field.

Two of Deejay’s uncles told KOMO News that they were left numb by the tᩚraɢedy. His family also described him as someone whose warmth, energy and caring nature had touched far more people than they had fully realized.

GONE TOO SOON

Deejay Tuiasosopo was just 16.

He was a student, an athlete, a teammate and a beloved member of a family now facing an unimaginable loss.

He had a season ahead of him, dreams he wanted to fulfill and a future that should have held so many possibilities.

Instead, his No. 56 jersey has become a symbol of remembrance, as those who knew him gather to honor the young man they will never forget.

Rest in peace, Deejay. Your dreams may have been cut short, but the lives you touched and the memories you leave behind will continue to matter.