Ex-NFL player Ma’ake Kemoeatu donates kidney to younger brother in lifesaving operation

AMERICAN sport has been getting a lot of unfortunate headlines lately. But let’s not forget about the genuinely good athletes and their ultimate sacrifices.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 03: Ma'ake Kemoeatu #96 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates following their win against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34-31. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

AN NFL star has donated his kidney to his NFL-playing brother and ended his own career in an ultimate show of family sacrifice.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle and 2013 Super Bowl champion Ma’ake Kemoeatu quit the sport after learning his younger brother Chris, a Pittsburgh Steeler and two-time Super Bowl winner, required a kidney transplant.

The pair underwent the surgery late last month, which, while saving Chris’ life, ended any chance of Ma’ake ever suiting up for an NFL team again, ESPN reports.

Chris Kemoeatu and his brother Ma'ake laugh during a news conference after their lifesaving operation.

But for the giant Tongan it wasn’t even a choice.

“He couldn’t play anymore, and I didn’t want to be in a position where he couldn’t play but I’d keep playing,” the 35-year-old, who also played at Carolina and Washington, said.

“As soon as my brother’s health was at risk I wanted to stop everything.”

“I’m the oldest of the seven kids, and it’s my responsibility to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. If my younger siblings need blood, it’ll be my blood. If they need a kidney, it’ll have to be my kidney.”

Chris Kemoeatu won two Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh.

The brothers were set to have the transplant 18 months ago, but struck a stumbling block when Chris discovered he first needed to have a coronary bypass.

Ma’ake called on some football wisdom as the pair grappled with the setback.

“I knew in my mind that he’s fighting a kidney and now he has to have heart surgery. I said to him, ‘it’s going to be OK’,” he said.

Chris Kemoeatu celebrates after the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

“I talked to him in football aspects. I said, ‘all right, we’re not going to get this in the first down, but we’re fourth and long right now and we have to go deep. We’ll make it through the first down — the heart surgery — to the end zone: the kidney transplant’.”

Chris described the surgery as a “humbling” experience.

“It definitely brought us closer as brothers,” the seven-year NFL veteran said.

Originally published as Ex-NFL player Ma’ake Kemoeatu donates kidney to younger brother in lifesaving operation