Rey Maualuga

On March 25, 2017, Maualuga was released by the Bengals.

On August 19, 2017, Maualuga signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was released on November 18, 2017, following his arrest the previous night.

On November 18, 2017, Maualuga was arrested for battery in Miami, Florida. He was accused for grabbing and shoving a man, who was deemed to be an employee at an E11EVEN nightclub, over a $40 bar tab dispute. Shortly thereafter, the Miami Dolphins waived Maualuga.

Despite being projected as a first round pick, Maualuga was picked in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was projected by some, and expecting, to go 16th overall to the San Diego Chargers, who instead opted to select hybrid linebacker/defensive end Larry English out of Northern Illinois. After being selected, Maualuga cried as he gave thanks to his late father and said he was thankful for his opportunity as "Nothing like this was ever expected for our family." His selection came one year after the Bengals used a first-round pick to select Maualuga's college teammate, linebacker Keith Rivers.

Maualuga also played NFL player Popo Vanauta in the 2014 baseball film Million Dollar Arm.

Maualuga signed a new two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Bengals on March 18, 2013.

On November 16, 2012, Maualuga was fined $15,750 for unnecessary roughness against the New York Giants.

Maualuga was arrested on January 29, 2010, on charges of drunken driving and careless driving at the Kenton County jail in Covington, Kentucky. That same day, the TMZ website published a photo purportedly showing Maulauga's arrest at the crash scene, and reported that Maualuga's blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was about double the legal limit.

On February 2, 2010, Maualuga pleaded guilty to the drunken driving charge. He was given a 7-day suspended jail sentence, two years probation, drivers' license suspension for 90 days, and fined $350. He apologized for his actions when he made his plea.

In the lead up to the 2009 NFL Draft, Maualuga was ranked as one of the top middle linebackers entering the draft, alongside Ohio State's James Laurinaitis. USC linebackers Maualuga, Cushing, and Matthews were all featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2009 NFL Draft Preview magazine, as all three were regarded as potential first round selections.

On December 30, 2009, Maualuga was placed on injured reserve due to a dislocated elbow. He finished his rookie season with 64 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, and three pass deflections in 15 games started.

Maualuga was considered a top choice for the 2008 NFL Draft, but he decided to stay for his senior year in college.

In addition to being named the 2008 winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award, Maualuga was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS Sportsline.com, College Football News, ESPN and Rivals.com. Maualuga was also chosen to participate in the 2009 Senior Bowl with some of his other USC teammates.

Maualuga was one of twelve graduating 2008 senior USC players, including the four senior linebackers (Maualuga, Cushing, Maiava, and Matthews), invited to the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine.

At the end of the 2007 regular season, Maualuga was selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team for the second year in a row by league coaches. He was the defensive player-of-the-game in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

In 2006, Maualuga returned in full form and was nominated for the Butkus Award and second team All Pac-10. He made his first start in place of injured senior Oscar Lua against Nebraska.

Maualuga attended the University of Southern California, and played for coach Pete Carroll's USC Trojans football team from 2005 to 2008. He was known for his emotional intensity both on the field and off. Carroll's Trojans had previously developed strong linebackers such as Lofa Tatupu and Keith Rivers, as well as Maualuga's fellow senior teammates Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews III, which were touted as one of the most talented linebacker corps in college football.

As a freshman in 2005, Maualuga earned Freshman All-American first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and Scout.com; also he won USC's John McKay Award (most competitive spirit). Off the field his career started with occasional spirited and reckless partying that led to an October 2005 incident where he got into a fight at a Halloween party and was arrested for misdemeanor battery. He agreed in an arraignment diversion program that included counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and community service resulting in the charges being dismissed. Maualuga later noted that: "You learn that you're only given a certain number of chances. If you keep going back to the same things you were doing, it shows that you don't learn from anything."

During Maualuga's freshman year he wrote "RIP" on the eye black paint under his right eye and "DAD" under his left eye in honor of his dad who died two days before the BCS National Championship Game following the 2005 season. His dad died after battling brain cancer, and from at least his junior season, black eye paint under both eyes read "DAD" in silver. He has two younger brothers.

Rey T. Maualuga (born January 20, 1987) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at USC, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins.