Jets’ OL won’t put new family at risk

Jets reserve offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi’s concerns about risking the health of his family played a prominent role in his decision to opt-out for the 2020 season recently. The 26year-old Koloamatangi has already had two family members die due to COVID-19. He also has a close friend battling the virus now.

So, he decided to forgo this season rather than attempt to make Gang Green’s roster. More than 50 players have chosen to opt out before this week’s deadline.

“One of the hardest decisions for me to make ever in my life,” Koloamatangi told television station KITV4 in Hawaii. “Football has meant so much for me. It’s helped me become who I am today in so many ways. So, having to walk away for a year temporarily… My wife and I, it was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make. As a new father, as a new husband, I really had to… figure out how we are going to (mitigate) risks between them, myself when I go out there and play. As athletes we all accept this year that when I go out there and play, we’re going to at some point most likely contract the virus.”

The 6-4, 310-pound Koloamatangi, who didn’t appear in a game last season after getting elevated from the practice squad in November, has a ninemonth daughter. The native of

Hawaii helped created the Hawaii Towards Zero website at the outset of the pandemic to inform people in the state about the realities of the virus.

“Our national government has yet to control or contain this virus,” Koloamatangi said. “If that’s the case, there’s no way our sports leagues have. But for me personally, what’s going on in my life, I just couldn’t take on those risks. That is the fact that I have to do my job — my real job — which is to take care of my family, my wife and kids.”

Koloamatangi, who spent the bulk of his first two seasons on the Lions’ practice squad as an undrafted player, would have been competing for one of the Jets’ final roster spots in training camp.