Marcus Mariota Parents: Meet Toa & Alana Deppe-Mariota, Who Sold Their Hawaii House to Develop His Career

Marcus Mariota has been quietly trudging on in his NFL journey since being drafted in 2015. But that doesn’t mean he’s been alone! His parents have always ensured their gifted son got the resources and the motivation to fulfill his dream. In his eight seasons, Mariota has cemented his place in the NFL despite facing multiple hurdles.

Coming from humble roots in Honolulu, Hawaii, the road to the league wasn’t easy for the quarterback. At first, convincing his father to let him switch from rugby to football, and then fighting the competition at his high school to finally make his place amongst the pros; it was the constant support of both his parents that helped him persevere. Mariota’s father, Toa, motivated him on his journey through constructive criticism and fighting for his rights, while his mother, Alana Deppe-Mariota, was more direct in her approach.

When Marcus Mariota’s parents sold their house

Mariota knew what he wanted since he was ten. As per the NY Times, he made a list of goals for himself as a kid, which included getting into professional football and marrying a soccer player. As for the former part, Toa took it upon himself to realize his son’s dreams after overcoming his initial hesitation. He fought for his son to prove himself at high school. According to Marcus’ father, the school coach would deny Mariota the starting position despite him having the better record. The coach, Hao, justified the decision by pointing out that the starting QB, Jeremy Higgins, played in all-state. Despite Toa’s protest when the situation didn’t change, he kept pushing his son to perform and even critiqued his form. Mariota persisted, encouraged by his father. But when it seemed like he was on the verge of a breakthrough came the elbow injury.

The quarterback spent time off-field waiting to recover from the unfortunate injury while his parents planned his journey to college football. It was reported that they sold their house, which “sat on a bluff overlooking Diamond Head,” to gather resources to enroll their son in football camps. Fortunately, Mariota caught Oregon’s attention. But even in the camp, the QB felt hopeless seeing his competition. His father had one simple message for him, “Then go compete for the job,” and the rest is history.

Mariota couples’ advice after their son’s Draft

Mariota achieved his NFL Draft after becoming the 2nd overall pick and joining the Tennessee Titans. While his father was active with his guidance and gave him tough love when needed, Alana has been the silent support. She was the one who insisted on him pursuing football when, initially, Tao only allowed him to play flag football. Her advice on her son getting drafted for a professional team was also very simple, “Not to get hit“. “That’s about as far as that goes,” said Alana. She also expressed her pride in her son in an email sent to a reporter who used to cover Mariota at Oregon. It read, “We are very proud of the young man Marcus has become.”

Mariota, too, has expressed his gratitude for his parents when starting an important phase in his life. He told the Tennessee Titans reporters, “My dad, he is one of the guys who is my biggest supporter, but also one of my biggest critics. I can go to him and talk to him about anything, and for me, that’s such a blessing.” Having missed out on the Heisman due to a knee sprain in one of his college games, the quarterback had found solace in his father’s arms right outside the locker room, as per the NY Times.

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Mariota’s future with the Philadelphia Eagles remains uncertain ahead of the 2024 season. The quarterback has proved himself repeatedly against all odds right from high school. His parents have supported him every step of the day, leading to his 93 total touchdowns and 15820 yards in his career.

Where do you see Marcus in the 2024 season? Let us know your predictions.