Former University of Washington football player Voi Tunuufi has died. He was 23.
Voi’s oldest sister, Sanita Tunuufi, told The Seattle Times on Monday, May 4, that her brother died in a car accident. A GoFundMe organized by Sanita in honor of Voi said that he died at 1:30 a.m. on Monday.
No other details about his death were available at the time of publication.
“Voi was known as the goofy guy, the one with the contagious laughter,” the GoFund Me reads. “Our brother who was always willing to go without so that someone else was on top. He never would shy away from any opportunity to serve those of his village. He was always going above and beyond, always giving & making sure people were included.”
Money earned from the fundraiser will “ease the burdens of my parents with incoming bills.”
“I ask that you donate what you can, anything helps,” Sanita added.
The GoFundMe had raised over $18,000 at the time of publication.
“Our hearts are with the Tunuufi family, his loved ones and every brother who wore the W beside him,” the University of Washington football program’s official social media accounts said in a statement Monday. “Forever in The Pack.”
Voi, an edge rusher, played 52 games for the Huskies from 2021 to 2024.
“It was an easy decision to choose Seattle,” Sanita told the Times about her brother’s decision to attend the university. “It wasn’t because of the coaches. It wasn’t because of the staff. It was because he loved UW. He loved being in Seattle.”
Voi committed to Washington after a standout high school career at East High in Salt Lake City.
After his collegiate playing days, Voi was not selected in the NFL Draft and did not receive any invitations to any rookie minicamps.
At the time of his death, Voi was preparing to join his former high school coach, Brandon Matich, as the defensive line coach at Salt Lake City’s Skyline High.
“He’s the best football player I ever coached,” Matich told the Times. “And he was an even better person. Everybody loved Voi. The calls I’ve gotten from people I haven’t heard from in years have been reaching out. He was a powerful personality.”
In addition to his sister Sanita, Voi is survived by his parents, Lauama and Alofa Tunuufi, his sisters Leone Pulufana, Christina Sika, Makayla Tunuufi and Angela Tunuufi, two brothers-in-law and five nieces and nephews.
