On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Samoan former professional NFL player Jesse Sapolu visited Catholic Central and delivered a special motivational speech to the football team.

Sapolu, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, shared inspiring stories from his 15-season NFL career and encouraged the players to stay focused on discipline, teamwork, and resilience, both on and off the field.

Gathered in the gym, the team listened intently as Sapolu spoke about overcoming adversity, including playing his entire NFL career with a serious heart condition. He emphasized the importance of mental toughness, faith, and humility in achieving long-term success.

In addition to his football legacy, Sapolu is the co-founder of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and a mentor to many young athletes through his Men In The Trenches (MITT) foundation. His visit served as a powerful reminder of the values Catholic Central aims to instill in its students: integrity, perseverance, and leadership.

Head Coach Justin Cessante '99 expressed gratitude for Sapolu's visit, noting how much it meant to the players to learn firsthand from a true champion. "CC was excited to host Jesse Sapolu (Former San Francisco 49er, All Pro Football Player and 4x Super Bowl Champion). Jesse is a great human being that has impacted his community and culture through the game of football as well as community service & giving. He is a pioneer in the Polynesian Hall of Fame, Polynesian HS Football All American Game and the Sapolu Destined Academy. Jesse has been a long time friend and delivered a strong message to our football program about TEAM and sacrifice. We look forward to working with Jesse on future projects to impact the youth throughout the world," Coach Cessante shared. 

The event concluded with a Q&A session and group photos, giving the team a chance to interact with a football legend and walk away with lessons that go far beyond the game.