The Man Behind The Name

For each home game, BaltimoreRavens.com will feature a Raven's childhood journey that will also be featured in Sunday's stadium gameday program.

Haloti Ngata . The uncommon name has slowly crept its way into households across the nation. Associated with the words rugged, relentless and powerful, the moniker conjures fear in opponents' hearts. But ask the defensive tackle what his name means, and he'll explain that it stands for much more than the panic it ignites.

Six-year-old Haloti smiles for a school picture.

Born Etuini Haloti Moala Ngata in Inglewood, Calif., the naturally-athletic man of Tongan descent was named after his uncle Haloti Moala.

"It's a respect thing in our culture," said Ngata, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and family man, whose four siblings are also named after a relative. "Family is everything to us, and this is just one way we acknowledge that."

Since inheriting his name, Ngata has been immersed in Polynesian culture. His parents, Solomone and Olga, hailed from Tonga, a small country of just 120,000 inhabitants in the South Pacific Ocean. Mom and Dad made sure their children grew up recognizing the family-oriented traditions.

A land of few residents, the tropical island is always bustling with vital activity. Life in Tonga is maintained through self-sustaining farming and the incessant tasks and hard work that goes along with it. Children wake up before dawn to do farm work before school and continue their household duties when they return in the evening.

Solomone ensured that persistent custom was not lost on his children while raising them in the U.S. The proud father of five held three jobs to provide for his family, while still making time to show his support on the sidelines.

"My whole approach and attitude comes from my dad," the Ravens' Pro Bowler says with a smile.

A self-proclaimed family man, Haloti remains extremely close with his siblings. Here, the entire Ngata family poses for a picture. From left to right, (top row) Haloti, Solomone Jr., Finau. (Bottom row) Vili, Solomone, Olga and Mariam.

"He was never well-off, but he was always humble about the little success he did have. He would drive one of his work trucks to my football or rugby games so he didn't miss them."

Ngata's position coach, Clarence Brooks, who has worked closely with him since he was drafted from Oregon in 2006, reveals that humility and loyalty are two qualities that make the All-American such a reliable teammate.

"I think at times on the field he feels like he has to be the protector," explains Brooks. "He's always looking out for his guys. He's a friend of practically anybody on this team, which is really rare. I think that's part of who he is and how he was brought up that makes him that way."

As he rises through the ranks on the gridiron, Ngata's family is never far from his mind. The passion that radiates when talking about his parents makes it clear that they are the force behind the drive in his eyes as he takes down his opponents.

Solomone and Olga, both of whom died tragically before he made it to the NFL, keep his hunger alive on the field.

In a devastatingly cruel four-year period, the then-promising college football star lost two of his biggest supporters. His father, whose pride and devotion made Ngata into the diligent man he is, was killed when his work truck slid off the road on an icy evening during his son's first year at Oregon. Just three months before he was drafted, his mother passed away from complications with diabetes.

Though his parents didn't get to see their son become the providing athlete, father and husband they raised him to be, Ngata insists that he can still give them comfort, knowing that he is thriving.

A standout high school football star, Haloti started his last three years at Highland High School. The frighteningly-big 18-year-old was rated the top defensive player in the nation.

"All I can do to honor them is to show them through me," he reveals. "And hopefully, that will make them proud."

One way in which Ngata carries on his parents' spirits is by continuing Tongan customs that he's practiced since he was a child. Ngata often performs a ritual close to his heart that enhances the elusiveness and agility that somehow come so naturally to a 350-pound wrecking ball.

A war dance originated by massive Polynesian warriors to develop their quickness in battle, the Haka has since been adopted by many Polynesian cultures as a spiritual practice. The dance is comprised of precise and aggressive movements coupled with fiery stares and a menacing chant. Rugby teams occasionally perform the intricate exercise prior to matchups to intimidate their challengers.

"For me, the Haka is calling upon my ancestors to have their spirits with me on the field," describes Ngata. "It's great. It's wonderful. I love doing it. It makes me feel closer to my culture."

Ever since Olga taught her children the dance, Haloti has mastered the footwork and balance and perfected the swift motions he now uses to maneuver around opponents.

Besides a deep heritage influencing his mindset on the field, the rich Polynesian tradition of playing the brutal game of rugby refined abilities that make Ngata a leading force on a stingy Ravens defense.

"You look at him, and you can see he's a big, strong guy and he can move things," says Brooks. "But to be as agile as he is and as quick on his feet as he is, some of that comes from being on the rugby field."

Ngata, an esteemed team captain at Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, played the "lock" position, which is the driving energy in the middle of the scrum.

"That's where the strength and power comes from," he explains. "The lock pushing on the front row enables the scrum to move the way you want it."

A physical core of his rugby team, Ngata paved the way to three national championships while learning more than he realized about the sport he is now dominating.

Ngata poses with his parents during his freshman year at Oregon. The All-American and Pac-10 co-defensive player of the year became a crucial force on the defensive line for the Ducks.

"You've got to have great balance in the trenches," he states, comparing the attributes he needed in rugby to what he now utilizes to bulldoze competitors in the NFL. "You have to know when to use your speed and strength at different times."

Haloti Ngata. It's heard frequently on radios and TVs and seen in newspapers and online. Though opponents fear it, fans cheer it and media tout it, it is not just a name. Only the man carrying its heritage knows the ample meaning it holds.