HPA Alum Unger Traded to New Orleans

Hawai’i Preparatory Academy graduate Max Unger will wear a new National Football League jersey for the 2015 season.

Unger, a Super Bowl champion in six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, was traded Tuesday to the New Orleans Saints. Also sent to the Saints was a first-round draft pick in 2015.

Seattle, in return, receives star tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick in next month’s NFL Draft.

“We would like to thank Max for his leadership and the role he has played in helping establish our current championship culture,” said Seahawks Executive VP/General Manager John Schneider in a team statement. “He is a former captain and has been a respected and valued leader for our consecutive Super Bowl teams. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues his career. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to acquire a player of Jimmy Graham’s caliber, and will remain relentless in our pursuit of sustaining that championship culture.”

Unger played and started in 67 games as the anchor of the team’s offensive line. Last season, the All-Pro center was hampered by numerous injuries, appearing in just six regular season games. He did play in all three of the Seahawks’ postseason games, including Seattle’s 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

Graham caught 85 passes last season with the Saints, 10 of them for touchdowns.