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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]
_(1).jpg) Takitaki with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 – New England Patriots | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | June 8, 1995 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 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
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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]
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| 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
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
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
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Postseason
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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]
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