The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft? The Detroit Lions surely got their hands on a gem in the form of Penei Sewell. The reason? It’s a pretty dominating one. He entered the NFL draft with a solid resume against his name. Picture this: a young offensive tackle stepped into the NFL with the Outland Trophy, Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, and the Morris Trophy in his sophomore year. Pure goosebumps, right?

But here’s the catch. His journey wasn’t just about his own hard work. Sewell’s success from college football to the NFL is structured by two amazing heroes by his side: his marvelous parents. Let’s dive into who these two people are and how they helped their son become a dominant force in football.

Who is Penei Sewell’s mom?

Let’s start with Arlene Sewell, the Lions OT’s mom. If you’ve ever wondered how someone can balance career, family, and everything else, Arlene’s got the answer. Arlene is the Chief Information Officer at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, which is no small feat. And her qualifications? Well, that’s nothing short of impressive.

She’s got an Associate’s degree from the American Samoa Community College, a Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems from Brigham Young University–Hawaii, and a Master’s degree in Information Systems Security from Colorado Technical University. Now let’s be real. As much as Arlene’s professional life is important, it’s worth noting how she handled that alongside raising a family, and supporting her kids’ dreams.

Arlene is a mom to four boys and one girl, and the Sewells are of Samoan American descent. Before moving to the States, the Sewell family spent some of the major years of their children struggling through tough times. All the children used to sleep together on the living room floor of a one-bedroom home in American Samoa. But the best thing, according to Arlene and her husband, was that all the siblings were together during tough times.

Speaking of his siblings, you can say that Penei is bound to play against his brothers. Y’all are probably wondering what the reason is, right? Well, his brothers Gabriel, Noah, and Nephi all are professional football linebackers. On the other hand, their sister, Gabriella, ran track. Talk about a complete athletic family. And despite critical times during their childhood, Arlene, along with her husband, created a well-rounded environment where Penei and his siblings could thrive.

Who is the Lions OT’s dad?

When it comes to Gabriel Sewell, Penei’s dad, the man is all about discipline and family. Apart from fulfilling a dad’s duty, Gabriel is also a mentor who served as a coach for high school football teams. He was the HC at Orem High School in Orem, Utah.

Back in the day when the Sewell family lived in Samoa, Gabriel couldn’t offer a luxurious life to his family. They lived in a house built of metal panels that would sometimes blow off during storms. But the Sewell household was strong enough to fight all those obstacles. The critical times transformed them into a team as they worked together while pitching in with chores, taking care of the yard, and every other thing.

“It was crazy, but the fun thing is the kids had each other,” Gabriell said while recalling his early days with family. “The kids took the dishes to the shower to wash them every night.”

Fast forward to a few years when Gabriel’s children came of age. With that, Gabriel took charge and decided to move to St. George, Utah. The reason? The Lions OT’s dad knew that moving to a place like St. George would open up better opportunities for his children, especially when it came to college football. And guess what? His risky decision at a time when life wasn’t easy actually paid off.

And now, Penei Sewell is playing for the Lions. Cherry on the top? His brother Nephi is a professional LB for the Saints, while Noah plays for the Bears as an LB as well. But what about their parents now? They found a new gig to work on as Gabriel and Arlene Sewell now run an NGO called The Sewell Strong Foundation, which they established together in 2022.