Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today I am going to talk about Francisco Mauigoa, also known as “Kiko,” a linebacker who the New York Jets picked in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. His story is honestly one of the most heart warming ones I have covered, because he grew up in American Samoa, about 6,000 miles away from the mainland USA, and now he is playing in the NFL along with his younger brother Francis, who plays for the Giants. Because of this, a lot of people are asking me, where does Francisco Mauigoa live now, and what is his house and family life like. So today I will answer that, and also tell you about his college career, his rookie season, his injury, and his really special bond with his brother, because I think this is a truly inspiring story.
Where Does Francisco Mauigoa Live Now
So where does Francisco Mauigoa live now? As of 2026, he is based in the New York and New Jersey area, since the Jets drafted him in the fifth round, 162nd overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft, as per Pro Football Reference. The Jets play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, so his day to day life now is centered around that area, close to the team facility.
I think the really cool part of this story is that his younger brother Francis, who goes by “Sisi,” was picked 10th overall by the New York Giants in the 2026 NFL Draft, as per Spotrac. This means both brothers now live and play in the exact same metro area, and their shared home stadium is MetLife Stadium itself, since both the Jets and Giants play there. If you ask me, that is honestly one of the sweetest football stories out there, two brothers from a tiny village going pro and ending up basically neighbors in New York.
Francisco Mauigoa House
Now let me tell you what is known about the Francisco Mauigoa house situation in a simple table, because guys, please note, there is no big public mansion story out for him yet, since he is still early in his rookie contract.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current Home Base | New York / New Jersey area, near MetLife Stadium |
| Team | New York Jets (since 2025) |
| Hometown | ‘Ili’ili village, American Samoa |
| High Schools | Tafuna (American Samoa), Aquinas High School (California), IMG Academy (Florida) |
| College Home Bases | Pullman, Washington; Miami, Florida |
| Jersey Number | #51 |
| Brother’s Home Base | Also New York / New Jersey area, plays for the Giants |
| Reported Owned Property | None publicly reported as of 2026 |
I think it is honestly very normal that there is no big house story yet, because he is only in his second NFL season and still on a rookie deal. Most players wait a few years and a couple of good contracts before they buy a really big home, so I am sure we will hear more about his house once his career grows a bit more.
Francisco Mauigoa American Samoa Roots and Journey to the Mainland
I also want to tell you where Francisco Mauigoa actually comes from, because guys, his path is honestly not a normal one at all. He was born on March 17, 2003, in ‘Ili’ili, American Samoa, as per Wikipedia. He grew up there with his brother Francis in a home with limited resources, and he has talked about how some young players on the island even used improvised gear because equipment was scarce, as per Yahoo Sports.
He later moved to the mainland for high school, first attending Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, California, where he actually played quarterback and rushed for over 400 yards as a senior, before also spending time at IMG Academy in Florida. I think it says a lot about his family that his parents, Fa’alialia and Telesia, later moved from American Samoa to Miami just to be closer to their sons, and the family still gathers for Sunday dinners and church near campus, as per Yahoo Sports. That kind of sacrifice is honestly really touching if you ask me.
Francisco Mauigoa College Career at Washington State and Miami
After high school, Mauigoa started his college career at Washington State from 2021 to 2022, where in his final season there he recorded 60 tackles and 3.5 sacks, including a wild 95-yard interception return for a touchdown, as per Wikipedia. But then he made a big decision, he transferred to the University of Miami in 2023 to reunite with his younger brother Francis, who was already playing offensive tackle there.
I think this was honestly a great move for him, because at Miami he earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2023, and he also became a team captain and wore the green dot, which means he was the guy calling the defensive signals on the field. The two brothers even lined up against each other in practice all the time, with Francis blocking and Kiko trying to get through him, as per Miami Hurricanes. Because of this strong college run, the Jets picked him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Francisco Mauigoa Career, Injury and Contract
On the field, Francisco Mauigoa has had a really solid rookie year with some tough injury luck mixed in. In 2025, he appeared in 12 games with 8 starts, finishing with 45 combined tackles, as per Pro Football Reference. He also played a lot of special teams, logging about 60 percent of the Jets special teams snaps and recording 4 special teams tackles, as per Jet Press. But in Week 14 of the 2025 season, he suffered a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve and ended his rookie year early, as per CBS Sports.
He signed a four year rookie contract with the Jets worth about $4.59 million total, with $394,528 fully guaranteed at signing, as per Spotrac. Going into the 2026 season, he has been backing up veteran linebacker Demario Davis, but he has also gotten a good amount of first team snaps in camp and preseason, as per NY Sports Day. I think if he keeps improving his tackling, he has a real shot to grow into a bigger role for the Jets defense.
The Mauigoa Brothers Reunited in New York
Guys, I have to talk about this part because I think it is the best story here. In August 2026, Francisco and Francis actually faced off against each other for the very first time in a game, in the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium, since the Jets and Giants share that stadium, as per NY Sports Day. Their parents flew in to watch, and even though Francis said the game would bring “even more intensity” between them, Kiko said they would “return to being brothers once the game ends.” I really like this because it shows that even with all the competition, family comes first for them.
Quick Facts About Francisco Mauigoa
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where does Francisco Mauigoa live now | Based in the New York / New Jersey area with the Jets, close to his brother Francis who plays for the Giants |
| Team (per House of Architectures sheet) | New York Jets |
| Conference / Division (per sheet) | AFC East |
| Side / Position (per sheet) | Defense, LB |
| Born | March 17, 2003, ‘Ili’ili, American Samoa |
| Nickname | Kiko, also called “Samoan Sledgehammer” |
| Colleges | Washington State, Miami |
| Drafted | Round 5, Pick 162, 2025 NFL Draft |
| Career Tackles (2025 rookie season) | 45 tackles in 12 games |
| Brother | Francis Mauigoa, offensive lineman for the New York Giants |
Also, according to the House of Architectures players sheet, Francisco Mauigoa is listed in the AFC Conference, East Division, on the New York Jets, playing Defense at the LB position, which matches exactly where he is right now in 2026. I always try to double check this for you guys, so I am happy this one lines up correctly.
FAQs
Q: Where does Francisco Mauigoa live now? A: He is based in the New York and New Jersey area, since the Jets drafted him in 2025. His brother Francis also lives in the same area now, playing for the Giants.
Q: What college did Francisco Mauigoa play for? A: He started at Washington State from 2021 to 2022, then transferred to the University of Miami in 2023, where he earned second-team All-ACC honors.
Q: Is Francisco Mauigoa related to Francis Mauigoa? A: Yes, they are brothers. Francisco is the older brother, and Francis, who plays offensive line for the Giants, is the younger one.
Q: What position does Francisco Mauigoa play? A: He plays linebacker for the New York Jets, and he also plays a lot on special teams.
Q: How much is Francisco Mauigoa’s contract worth? A: His rookie contract with the Jets is worth about $4.59 million over four years, with $394,528 fully guaranteed.
Final Words
So guys, these were some facts I found about Francisco Mauigoa, his long journey from a small village in American Samoa, to college at Washington State and Miami, and now his rookie season with the Jets. I think the best part of his story is honestly his bond with his brother Francis, both of them now playing in the same city after coming from 6,000 miles away. It really shows that hard work and family support can take you very far. Keep on visiting House of Architectures for more info on your favorite players and their homes.
Sources
- Wikipedia – Francisco Mauigoa
- Pro Football Reference – Francisco Mauigoa Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College
- Spotrac – Francisco Mauigoa Contract, Salary & Cap Hit 2026
- Spotrac – Francis Mauigoa Contract, Salary & Cap Hit 2026
- Yahoo Sports – Are Francis Mauigoa and Francisco Mauigoa Related? Everything You Need to Know
- Miami Hurricanes – Brotherly Bond: Francis and Francisco Mauigoa
- CBS Sports – Jets’ Francisco Mauigoa: Done for season
- Jet Press – Kiko Mauigoa Has One Clear Path to Finding a Home With the Jets
- NY Sports Day – Mauigoa Brothers Meet in Giants-Jets Preseason Finale