Purpose: Using the self-determination theory, this study examined both the mediating effects and the specific indirect effects of the satisfaction of the three psychological needs (need for autonomy, competence and relatedness) and intrinsic motivation in the relation between need support from the physical education (PE) teacher and engagement in PE classes. Method: Participants were 523 high school students (251 males, 272 females) and completed questionnaire assessing perceived need support, need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and engagement in PE classes. Results: Structural equation modeling analysis showed perceptions of the three need satisfaction partially mediated the relation between need support from PE teacher and engagement in classes. Moreover, the indirect effect of intrinsic motivation was larger than those of the three psychological need satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PE teacher is able to promote students' intrinsic motivation by satisfying their needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness. The findings supported the theoretical tenets of self-determination theory as well.