On Sunday, Marcus Mariota was having a Father's Day catch with his dad, Toa.
Now a father himself, Mariota couldn't recall the last time he threw the ball around with his dad. Like many things in his life, the passage of time has added significance, perspective and new meaning to events.
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On Monday morning, Mariota was at Hoakalei Country Club for his Motiv8 Foundation's eighth fundraiser, the most influential number in his football journey. No. 8 is the jersey number he wore as a high school standout at Saint Louis and a Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon. It's also the number he stuck with for the first seven years of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders.
Special yellow and green gear was abundant at Monday's Motiv8 fundraiser, the special theme in the 2024 edition of the golf tournament as Mariota pays homage to his alma mater at Oregon, a place he calls his second home.
It's been 10 years since Mariota gave both the University of Oregon and the state of Hawaii its first and only Heisman winner thus far, where his play on the field and humility off of it inspired countless viewers.
"It's crazy, right? I think about the relationships I've built," Mariota reflected on Monday. "There's a few of my teammates that are here today. Football has an amazing way to bring people together and just the people, the teammates. That's what I think most of. It was such a fun run. We had a great group of guys."
Ever since Mariota's time with Oregon came to an end, the Ducks did not sign a quarterback from Hawaii, nor has a quarterback worn No. 8. Both will change in the fall as Mililani's Dillon Gabriel will don Mariota's old number in the fall as a graduate transfer. Upon committing to the Ducks, Gabriel gave Mariota a quick heads-up.
"He didn't need my approval. He was nice enough to reach out," Mariota recalled. "The fact of the matter to me is he told me he wore No. 8 because of what we were able to accomplish at Oregon and that in itself is such an incredible compliment.
"It's really cool to see that. It makes me feel old a little bit. I've known Dillon since he was a young kid and to see him wear the green and yellow, to see him wear 8 this year is gonna be special and I'm excited to see what they do. I told him, 'No pressure, man. Just go be yourself.' He's gonna represent that number really well."
As for his current number, Mariota will become the first NFL quarterback to wear No. 0 when he officially suits up for the Washington Commanders this fall. More importantly, Mariota will enter his 10th NFL season, a milestone for players in the league and a true sign of sustained longevity.
"It takes a huge support system. I wouldn't be standing here today without my family, without my friends, and really the support I've gotten from the state of Hawaii and Oregon," Mariota said. "It really comes down to choosing who you want to be around, pushing yourself to be the best version of yourself day in and day out, never settling, never being content. You'll pick your head up in a few years and realize you played 10 years and realize it's kind of crazy, it goes by fast. I'm a true believer in working hard and putting forth your best effort every single day."
Despite all his football accolades, Mariota's priorities changed upon becoming a new father in December 2022, where he and his wife and college sweetheart, Kiyomi, welcomed baby Makaia Kei Mariota to the world.
"Oh, man. It's changed my perspective so much in the sense that every single day, I was focused on myself. I was focused on what I gotta do from a football standpoint, what I gotta do from marketing, that kind of thing. When you have a child, all that goes out the window and it's about raising your kid and being there for your child and that, I think, has been such a healthy balance for me," Mariota said. "I'm very Type A, I gotta do things now, now, now. She has allowed be to take a step back and gain some patience.
"It's been so much fun and regardless of what I do, the best moment of my day is when I come home and she says 'Dada.' That in itself makes everything worthwhile and I'm excited to just help her go through her life and give her that perspective I've been able to gain from her."