Sione Takitaki

Sione Takitaki
refer to caption
Takitaki with the Cleveland Browns in 2019
No. 16 – New England Patriots
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-06-08) June 8, 1995 (age 29)
Fontana, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Heritage (Romoland, California)
College:BYU (2014–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 3 / pick: 80
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:268
Sacks:4.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:4
Interceptions:2
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Sione Takitaki (born June 8, 1995) is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.[1]

College career

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Takitaki played college football at BYU from 2014 to 2018. In four seasons with the team, he totaled 237 tackles, including 32.5 tackles for a loss, with 14.5 sacks. As a senior, he served as a team captain and led the Cougars with 118 tackles.[2]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in
(1.86 m) 		238 lb
(108 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.63 s 1.60 s 2.70 s 4.28 s 7.21 s 37.0 in
(0.94 m)		 10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3][4]

Cleveland Browns

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Takitaki was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round with the 80th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.[5]

In Week 11 of the 2020 season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Takitaki intercepted a pass thrown by Carson Wentz and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown during the 22–17 win. This was Takitaki's first career interception and touchdown.[6] Takitaki was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on November 25, 2020,[7] and activated on December 4.[8] In Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Takitaki recorded his first career sack on Lamar Jackson during the 47–42 loss.[9]

Takitaki produced the biggest play of his career that season in the AFC Wildcard game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, intercepting a Ben Roethlisberger pass with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter to seal a 48–37 victory.[10]

Takitaki entered the 2022 season as a starting linebacker alongside Anthony Walker Jr. and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 13 and was placed on injured reserve on December 7, 2022.[11]

On March 16, 2023, Takitaki signed a one-year contract extension with the Browns.[12]

New England Patriots

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On March 14, 2024, Takitaki signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots.[13] He was placed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season.[14] He was activated on October 12.

Career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack TFL Int Yards Avg Lng TD PD FF FR
2019 CLE 15 1 21 14 7 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 CLE 15 12 67 41 26 1.0 2 1 50 50.0 50 1 1 0 0
2021 CLE 15 8 44 21 23 0.0 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 1
2022 CLE 12 8 71 36 35 1.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0
Career 57 29 203 112 91 2.0 11 1 50 50.0 50 1 1 2 1

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack TFL Int Yards Avg Lng TD PD FF FR
2020 CLE 2 2 8 5 3 0.0 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 1 0 0
Career 2 2 8 5 3 0.0 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 1 0 0

Personal life

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Takitaki, of Tongan descent, was born to father Vaimaua and mother Fissipeau, the youngest of a family of seven children with four sisters and two brothers.[15] [16] Takitaki married Alyssa Penney on June 14, 2016, in Sacramento, California.[17]

His father died when he was 14.[18] He was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with his faith being one of the reasons he chose to attend BYU.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Drew, Jay (April 25, 2019). "BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki eager to continue his 'remarkable' turnaround story as NFL draft approaches". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Petrak, Scott (April 27, 2019). "NFL Draft Notes: Third-round pick Sione Takitaki went from suspensions and dismissals at BYU to captain, credits marrying wonderful wife". BrownsZone. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sione Takitaki Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "2019 Draft Scout Sione Takitaki, Brigham Young NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Gribble, Andrew (April 26, 2019). "Cleveland Browns select BYU LB Sione Takitaki with No. 80 pick in 2019 NFL Draft". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns – November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Browns place LB Sione Takitaki on reserve/COVID-19 list". ClevelandBrowns.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Browns activate DE Joe Jackson and LB Sione Takitaki". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - December 14th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Ireland, Kyle (January 11, 2021). "Browns Linebacker Sione Takitaki Seals Wild Card Win Over Steelers With Interception". KSL Sports. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "Browns place LB Sione Takitaki on injured reserve, sign LB Reggie Ragland". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Browns re-sign LB Sione Takitaki". ClevelandBrowns.com. March 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Patriots Sign Four Unrestricted Free Agents". Patriots.com. March 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Patriots Make Roster Moves to Reach the 53-Man Roster Limit". Patriots.com. August 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "Sione Takitaki: Athlete Profile". BYU Cougars. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  16. ^ Zenger, Sydney (October 8, 2018). "Family, faith and football led Takitaki to BYU". BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  17. ^ Zuckerman, Shani (March 2, 2021). "How Sione Takitaki's wife discovered his potential long before Browns fell in love with it". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "BYU LB Sione Takitaki's 1st press conference as a Cleveland Brown". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  19. ^ Hicks, Zachary (April 6, 2019). "Meet Sione Takitaki, BYU's gem of an LB prospect". Draft Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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