Silva attended Kamehameha Schools in Keaau, Hawaii, where he practiced football, baseball, basketball and track. As a senior, he received All-state honors as a quarterback. He also was named All-state in baseball as a senior. He was a member of league championship teams in football, baseball and basketball.
College career
Silva accepted a football scholarship from Oregon State University. He was redshirted as a freshman, and was moved from quarterback to wide receiver. At the end of the year he transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to be closer to his family. In 2007, he sat out due to NCAA transfer rules. As a sophomore, he was converted into a safety. He appeared in 11 games, playing mostly on special teams. He collected 10 tackles and one pass defensed. As a junior, he became a starter at free safety. He appeared in all 13 games, recording 74 tackles, 6 interceptions, 10 passes defensed and one quarterback hurry. As a senior, he registered 85 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 8 interceptions, 15 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He finished his college career with 169 tackles, 14 interceptions, 26 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
On November 10, 2011, he was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. To make room for Silva, the Bills released safety Delano Howell.
Dallas Cowboys
On December 13, 2011, he was signed off the Bill's practice squad to the Dallas Cowboys, after safety Barry Church suffered a shoulder injury against the New York Giants. He appeared in the final 2 games of the season as a backup safety, making 4 special teams tackles. In 2012, he played in the first 3 games of the season, making 2 defensive tackles and one special teams stop. On September 27, he was released to make room for punter Brian Moorman.
Buffalo Bills (second stint)
On October 2, 2012, Silva was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad. On November 8, he was promoted to the active roster. He appeared in 7 games as a backup safety. On August 6, 2013, he left training camp to solve personal matters and was placed on the exempt-left squad list. He never returned to the team.
Personal life
Silva is of Samoan descent. In March 2015, he was invited to the inaugural NFL veteran combine, but he wasn't signed by a team.
