Selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
2x Pro Bowl Selection (2021, 2024).
Has started 90-of-95 games he has played, recording 222 tackles (41 for loss), 66 quarterback hits, 30.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Has played in eight postseason contests, with six starts, recording 11 tackles (two for loss), six quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.
Recorded first career multi-sack game at Atlanta (12/5/21), with 2.0 sacks.
Registered first career fumble recovery against Chicago (10/24/21).
Scored first NFL touchdown when he caught a one-yard pass in a Buccaneers' win at Atlanta (11/24/19).
Recorded first career sack (Alex Smith) vs. Washington (11/11/18).
Made NFL debut at Chicago (9/30/18).
Made first career start in win vs. Cleveland (10/21/18).
Was named a team captain for the 2024 season.
Played 35-of-59 defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory over the Washington Commanders, finishing with three tackles (one for loss).
In the Week 2 win at Detroit, played 39 defensive snaps and recorded one pass defensed before leaving with injury.
Was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive player in the Week 2 win before exiting the game with injury.
Was inactive for Week 3 vs. Denver.
In the Week 4 win over Philadelphia, played 39-of-57 defensive snaps and amassed three tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack and one quarterback hit.
His sack in Week 4 marked his first of the season and increased his career total to 24.5 — the 14th-most in franchise history at the time.
In Week 5 at Atlanta, played 54-of-87 defensive snaps and tallied two tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. Vea's sack in Week 5 increased his career total to 25.5.
Weeks 4-5 marked the fourth time in Vea's career that he has recorded 1.0+ sacks in consecutive weeks, and the first time since doing so in Weeks 10-11 of the 2023 season.
Played 42-of-70 defensive snaps in the Week 6 victory at New Orleans, totaling four tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. His sack increased his season total to 3.0 and his career total to 26.5.
Vea recorded a sack in three straight games across Weeks 4-6, marking the second time in his career that he has done so, joining Weeks 7-9 of the 2022 season.
Per Next Gen Stats, Vea led all Buccaneers with four quarterback pressures in the Week 6 win over New Orleans.
In Week 7 vs. Baltimore, played 38- of-59 defensive snaps and tallied three tackles. Per Next Gen Stats, Vea recorded a team lead-tying two quarterback pressures in Week 7.
Played 45-of-62 defensive snaps in Week 8 vs. Atlanta, recording a then-season-high five tackles (one for loss).
Posted a career effort in Week 9 at Kansas City, finishing with a career-high 10 tackles (two for loss), a career-high-tying three quarterback hits, and a career-high-tying 2.0 sacks.
According to Statspass, Vea led all nose tackles in sacks through 9 weeks with 5.0.
Per Next Gen Stats, Vea recorded a team-leading five quarterback pressures in Week 9.
In Week 10 vs. San Francisco, played 43-of-64 defensive snaps and tallied one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Vea's four quarterback pressures in Week 10 led Tampa Bay, according to Next Gen Stats.
Played 32-of-59 defensive snaps in the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, logging two tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. His sack marked his team-leading sixth sack of the season.
Also appeared on two offensive snaps in Week 12, lining up at fullback on the goal line.
In the Week 13 win at Carolina, played 56-of-70 defensive snaps, totaling one tackle and one quarterback hit. It marked his fourth consecutive game with a quarterback hit — the longest such streak of his career.
Also appeared on one offensive snap in Week 13, lining up at fullback on the goal line.
Played 47-of-67 defensive snaps in the Week 14 win over Las Vegas, tallying one tackle and one quarterback hit. His quarterback hit extended his career-long streak of consecutive games with at least one such hit to five games.
In the Week 15 win over the L.A. Chargers, played 40-of-52 defensive snaps. Limited the Chargers to 2.8 yards per carry when he was on the field, while also taking on 14 double-teams.
Played 48-of-60 defensive snaps in Week 16 at Dallas, logging three tackles and one quarterback hit.
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive player in Week 16, earning a 71.6 overall defensive grade.
In the Week 17 win over Carolina, played 32-of-47 defensive snaps, tallying one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Played 55-of-66 defensive snaps in the Week 18 victory over New Orleans, finishing with three tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. Vea's sack increased his season total to a career-high 7.0.
Between Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, the Buccaneers were 1-of-3 teams in 2024 to have multiple defensive tackles with 7.0+ sacks.
In the Wild Card round against Washington, played 51-of-73 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit.
Played in 40 career games at Washington (2014-17), recording 100 tackles (15 for loss), 9.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.
As a redshirt junior (2017), earned the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Award, as well as the Morris Trophy, given annually to the top defensive lineman in the Pac-12, as voted on by the conference's offensive linemen.
Named second-team All-American by USA Today, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and The Athletic, while earning first-team All-Pac-12 Honors from both the league's coaches and the Associated Press. Was also a finalist for the Polynesian Player of the Year and was a Bednarik Award semifinalist.
Started all 13 games as a senior, recording 44 tackles (5.5 for loss), four passes defensed, 2.5 sacks and a blocked punt.
Helped anchor Washington's run defense, which ranked fourth in the NCAA in rushing yards allowed per game (100.9), while only allowing 2.86 yards per carry, the second-lowest mark in the NCAA.
Part of a Washington defense that allowed just 16.1 points per game, the fifth-best mark in the country, and allowed only 298.0 yards per game, the eighth-fewest in the NCAA.
Played in all 14 games, with five starts, as a redshirt sophomore (2016), tallying 39 tackles (6.5 for loss), 5.0 sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, played in 13 games, registering 17 tackles (three for loss), one forced fumble, one pass defensed and one sack.
Attended Milpitas High School (Milpitas, California).
Played defensive line and running back in high school.
Named to MaxPreps.com All-NorCal first team and Division II all-state first-team as a senior, while also being named first-team All-Metro by the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News.
Vea, along with the defensive linemen hosted the 8th annual "D-Line Delivers Christmas". Local families were surprised with a tour of AdventHealth Training Center, dinner with D-Line, and a shopping spree at Target.
