The Washington Commanders have bolstered their linebacker corps by signing former Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu. Here are five things to know about one of the newest members of the Commanders' defense.
1. He brings versatility.
Technically, Luvu is going to be a linebacker for the Commanders, but that's not how he would classify himself. His skill set indicates that he can do much more than that.
"You can put my anywhere," Luvu said, "and we're gonna go get it."
**Former Panthers defensive coordinator Al Holcomb called it Luvu’s “evolution” as a player.** After starting as mostly a special teams player for the New York Jets, he signed with the Panthers in 2021 and was used at multiple spots on their defense. That decision was made by Holcomb as part of an effort to make Luvu a more complete player, and Luvu embraced that role.
"It's been an eye-opener for me, it's a challenge, but I'm up for the challenge," Luvu said. "Wherever they put me, said it since OTAs and training camp, whatever they want me to do, I'm going to learn it and do whatever I can."
Holcomb knew Luvu has several strengths, from setting the edge to playing off the ball. So, rather than limiting Luvu to using only one trait, he decided to use Luvu in a way that highlighted all of his better qualities.
While Luvu's exact role was never really defined, his teammates knew how valuable he was to the defense.
"He's one of those guys who plays fast, plays physical; he's the Energizer bunny to this defense," said linebacker Shaq Thompson. "He's a fast-twitch guy and just makes plays."
2. He was a captain in 2023 and took it seriously.
Luvu saw a serious increase in responsibility around the middle of the 2023 season. The season-ending injury to Thompson led to Luvu being named a captain, and he got the green dot that signifies him as the on-field play caller.
Luvu didn't take those new roles lightly. Rather than spend his Tuesdays -- commonly used as a day off around the NLF -- getting away from football, he was at the Panthers' stadium, watching film and preparing for his next opponent.
"It's not enough to just come on Wednesday and re-watch film," **Luvu said.** "It's going to take us to where this team can go, as far as watching film, getting that extra film, getting that extra look in, and getting the body right."
Being a leader was not new territory for Luvu. His teammates already saw him in that role, so aside from getting the plays and relaying them to the defense, he was ready for the challenges that going from contributor to overseer presented him.
"I'm all in, I'm ready for it, I'm made for this," Luvu said. "What can I say, man? This is my calling. And taking that green dot, and having that C on my chest, it comes with high responsibilities and, with that coming, I can take that."
It's likely that Bobby Wagner will assume most of that role in Washington. Luvu can still help set the tone as they try to restructure the Commanders' defense.
Take a look back at Frankie Luvu's previous stops before joining the Washington Commanders. (Photos via The Associated Press)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) tackles Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (23) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 09, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
New York Jets cornerback Brian Poole (34) keeps pace with New York Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (50) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) wears the Carolina Panthers black helmet before an NFL game agains the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 25-15. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) runs onto the field during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Charlotte. N.C.. The Colts defeated the Panthers 27-13. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49), linebacker Shaq Thompson (7), cornerback Donte Jackson (26) and defensive end Brian Burns (53) run off the field after a turnover during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 25-15. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) takes a defensive position during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 25-15. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) lines up on defense during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
New York Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (50) during an NFL regular season football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Texans won, 28-22. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (7), linebacker Frankie Luvu (49), and linebacker Brian Burns (0) celebrate a sack during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. The Saints defeated the Panthers 20-17. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) high-fives fans after running an interception back for a touchdown during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 in Charlotte, N.C. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 26-16. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) lines up before the snap during the NFL game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sep. 18, 2022 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants defeated the Panthers 19-16. (Kathryn Riley via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) looks on from the sideline before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Panthers, 16-13. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 in Charlotte, N.C. The Cowboys defeated the Panthers, 33-10. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) runs toward the play during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 25-15. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) plays against the New Orleans Saints during an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
New York Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (50) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Jets 34-28. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) lines up on defense during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sep. 11, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is hit by New York Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. Packers' David Bakhtiari (69) look on. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Yetur Gross-Matos (97), linebacker Shaq Thompson (7), linebacker Brian Burns (0), and linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) celebrate a sack during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. The Saints defeated the Panthers 20-17. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) runs an interception back for a touchdown during an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 in Charlotte, N.C. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 26-16. (Kara Durrette via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) takes a defensive position during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 2 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. The Cardinals defeated the Panthers 26-16. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) takes a defensive position during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 25-15. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) shakes hands with teammates during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) during the second half of a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
New York Jets linebacker Frankie Luvu (50) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Chicago. The Bears won 24-10. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Nov. 09, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) looks into the backfield during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. The Bengals defeated the Panthers 42-21. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is sacked by Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
3. Luke Kuechly is a big fan.
Luvu still has a lot to learn as he prepares for his seventh season and third team. Being guided by a future Hall of Famer should help with some of that.
"[Frankie] plays football the right way," former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly said last year. "I'm jealous of the guys that are still out there that get to play with him."
Kuechly's eight-year career was one of the best in recent memory. He was the 2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year and made seven straight Pro Bowls and received as many All-Pro selection. He recorded at least 100 tackles in each season, leading the league in stops twice, and grabbed 18 interceptions.
So, obviously Kuechly knows the position better than most, and he loves what he sees from Luvu.
"I think his energy, passion and love for football is something that's been really good for us when you lose a lot of guys," **Kuechly said.** "Like, who's one of our guys we look to that's passionate, loves football, has great energy, is around the ball, plays physical, who's tough, will play hurt? He embodies all of that stuff."
Like most people who watch Luvu, Kuechly appreciates how he is able to make plays from anywhere on the field. "You don't know where he's gonna line up," Kuechly said. "He could line up on the ball, off the ball, on the right, on the left." But no matter what he does, Luvu stands out on film, and that carries significant weight for Kuechly.
"He's fun to watch," Kuechly said. "He's around the ball. When you watch the game, it's like, "Oh, there's Frankie." He just pops up and pops up and pops up. Guys that just pop up are football players."
4. He took a long path to earning his U.S. citizenship.
Luvu was born in Tafuna, American Samoa and lived there until 2013, when he started his college career at Washington State. He was a U.S. National due to American Samoa being a territory of the United States, but he didn't become a naturalized citizen until last August.
It was the end goal to over a year's worth of hard work on top of his demands as an NFL player.
"The bigger picture of me doing everything I did was to sponsor them, and getting them out here to watch my games and watch me play pro."
Luvu had to pass the naturalization test before receiving his citizenship. It consists of 100 questions on United States civics, and each answer had to be provided orally. The questions focused on the United States Constitution, defining the "rule of law" and naming the branches of government.
Luvu practiced with the team's athletic trainers while working out in the offseason, and the Panthers' vice president of player affairs Kevin Winston and player affairs manager Jaiquawn Jarrett showed up for the naturalization ceremony in August.
"Just showing love, they're always wanting to dive in anything, as far as success," **Luvu said.** "I was really low-key about it, get it done, get back to work. But once they knew about it, they're like, 'Yeah, man, we want to come out, support.' So yeah, they came out and showed love. I appreciate that."
5. He's coming off a career season.
Although Luvu has been in the NFL since 2018, it's taken some time for him to hit his stride. He spent three seasons with the Jets and only had four starts for the team before moving on to the Panthers, and it still took him another season to establish himself as a full-time starter.
However, it seems like the Commanders are signing him at the right time, because he's coming off two stellar campaigns.
Over the past six years, Luvu's stats include 338 tackles, 41 quarterback hits, 20 sacks and 12 pass breakups. He's accumulated over two-thirds of his tackles, 12.5 of his sacks, nearly half of his quarterback hits and nine of his pass breakups since 2022. In the time that Luvu became a starter for the Panthers, he grabbed his first interception and returned it for a touchdown, set a career high in sacks and finished 10th in the NFC in tackles.
So, it makes sense why the Commanders were so quick to add his services to their roster. He's been versatile throughout his career, but now his production is starting to show how valuable that trait can be.
