He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and was selected in the seventh round of the 1987 NFL draft.
He played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks.
Saleaumua was the volunteer defensive line coach in 2000 and 2001 for Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
In January 2011, he led his team to a commanding 21–8 victory as head coach in the Polynesian All American Classic Bowl game in Los Angeles.
In January 2019 Dan Saleaumua was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.