Stephen Paea

On March 10, 2017, Paea signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, to help replace defensive tackle Terrell McClain who left in free agency. He also reunited with Rod Marinelli who was his defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. Although he battled a degenerative knee condition, he had a strong showing in the preseason and earned the starting position at defensive tackle, which gave the team the confidence to release Cedric Thornton. The knee injury would not improve and kept him out of practice since the first week of the regular season. He still managed to start 4 games, posting 7 tackles (2 for loss) and one quarterback pressure. On October 11, he decided to inform the team that he would be retiring from the NFL. He was placed on the injured reserve list on October 13.

On September 2, 2016, the Cleveland Browns signed Paea as a free agent to play defensive end and provide depth on the defensive line. He appeared in 13 games, registering 12 tackles and a half-sack.

On March 10, 2015, Paea signed a four-year contract with the Washington Redskins, to play defensive end in their 3-4 defense. On December 11, the team placed him on injured reserve with a Grade 2 toe sprain. He appeared in 11 games (one start), registering 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He was released by the team on August 30, 2016.

In 2012, Paea and Nick Roach were awarded the Brian Piccolo Award.

After the 2012 NFL Draft, Paea was reunited with Oregon State teammate Brandon Hardin.

Paea was invited to the 2011 Senior Bowl, but tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee on the opening practice, causing him to miss the remainder of the event.

Paea was a nominee for the Bill Hayward Athlete of the Year Award at the 2011 Oregon Sports Awards.

Paea was selected with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears On July 29, 2011, he signed a 4-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

Paea attended Oregon State University, where he played for the Oregon State Beavers football team from 2008 to 2010. Making an immediate impact for the Beavers, Paea played in all 13 games, starting 12 of them, and recorded 41 tackles, 11 for a loss, and five quarterback sacks. He was selected to College Football News′ All-Sophomore Second Team and was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection.

After redshirting his initial year at Snow, he added more than 20 pounds to his frame and started the 2007 season as the No. 2 tackle on the depth chart. Finally drawing the attention of major schools, he transferred to Oregon State in mid-season after graduating from Snow with an associate degree in December 2007.

At the NFL Combine, Paea recorded 49 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press, the highest since Justin Ernest's 51 reps in 1999.

Stephen Paea (/ˈ p aɪ . ə / PY -ə; born May 11, 1988) is a New Zealand–born former American football defensive tackle. He played college football for Oregon State University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys.

In a Sunday Night Football game on October 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, as well as his NFL debut, Paea sacked Donovan McNabb in the end zone for a safety, being the first Bears player to record a safety in his debut since at least 1970.