Marcus Ardel Taulauniu Mariota is a 2025 NFL season quarterback of the Washington Commanders. The Tennessee Titans selected him as the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. According to Pro Football Reference, Mariota has a record of 27 wins and 20 losses with 55 games over 4 seasons. He has only started 13 games for four teams since 2020. Mariota has passed for 1,361 times and scored 97 TDs in 93 NFL games, as per Pro Football Reference.

Despite just a few appearances, he has impressed the fans with his solid game skills, speed, and passing skills. His parents, Toa Mariota and Alana Deppe-Mariota, provide a strong family foundation. Let’s dive deep into the 31-year-old’s family history and background.

Where is Marcus Mariota from, and What is Marcus Mariota’s Nationality

Marcus Mariota was born on October 30, 1993, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He grew up there and attended St. Louis High School, where he was a football and track star. Marcus was not that popular until his senior year, when he helped his team win a state championship with an 11-1 record.

He was named the best offensive player in the league and also the 2010 Hawaii Gatorade player. Despite his achievements, he could get scholarships in only two major colleges. He selected the University of Oregon, where he became the first Oregon player, the first Polynesian, and the first Hawaiian to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

What is Marcus Mariota’s ethnicity?

Marcus Mariota is Samoan and German. His father’s lineage is Samoan, while his mother is of German descent. Marcus is a proud Polynesian who often spoke a lot about the significance of his community and culture in his life. His parents, Toa and Alana Deppe-Mariota, are both Americans.

Marcus’s father

Marcus Mariota’s father, Toa Mariota, is of Samoan lineage. He works with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch of the Department of Homeland Security as a supervisor, according to The New York Times.

Marcus’s mother

Marcus Mariota’s mother, Alana Mariota, currently lives in Hawaii. She studied at Kapaa High School and the University of Chaminade in Honolulu, as per her Facebook profile. She also works for her son’s organization, the Motiv8 Foundation. It is a non-profit organization that looks after young children’s academic and sporting endeavors.

Is Marcus Mariota an Asian American [ Polynesian / European ]?

Marcus Mariota is a proud Polynesian American owing to the fact that he has Samoan roots on his father’s side. Polynesian is a group of people who mostly reside in Pacific islands, including Samoa and Hawaii, where Marcus grew up. He tends to show a lot of pride in his culture and speaks of his community to which he represents.

Marcus also has European lineage courtesy of his mother, who was a German. He identifies himself as a strong Christian and his religion is a significant aspect of his life. Marcus does not consider the need to show himself humbly and to actually do more than himself through his and on and off-field actions.

Big opportunity for Marcus

Mariota will start for Jayden Daniels, who has a knee injury and isn’t ready to play. Coach Quinn is very confident that he can run the Commanders’ offense exactly how offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury wants. Quinn also said his confidence isn’t just because he has got the perfect replacement for Daniels. When asked how confident he is, Quinn said, “A lot. It has zero to do with this week.”

“When we have him here, it’s having two QBs in the building, and we’ve been together now going into our second season. So, the room’s pretty fantastic. They lean on each other when things are best, how to feature the guys into that space. So, I would say it’s probably our time together of what we’ve seen where he is.”

Quinn has said before that Mariota earned the respect of the players and coaches last season. He impressed them in two games and showed great attitude during last year’s training camp, even though he wasn’t named the starter for the whole season.