Jordan Ta'amu

Jordan Taalolo Ta'amu-Perifanos (born December 10, 1997) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. Ta'amu has been a member of several National Football League (NFL) teams and has started for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL and Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL). With the Bandits, he led the 2022 USFL season in passing yardage and touchdowns.

Jordan Ta'amu
refer to caption
Ta'amu with the DC Defenders in 2023
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-10) December 10, 1997
Pearl City, Hawaii, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:Pearl City
College:
Position:Quarterback
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • XFL Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
  • All-XFL Team (2023)
  • USFL passing yards leader (2022)
  • USFL passing touchdowns leader (2022)
Career USFL/XFL statistics as of 2023
Passing attempts:726
Passing completions:447
Completion percentage:61.5
TD–INT:37-22
Passing yards:5,461
QB Rating:89.1
Rushing yards:914
Rushing touchdowns:5
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and college

Ta'amu attended the Pearl City High School in Pearl City, Hawaii. As a senior, he passed for 1,779 yards with 29 touchdowns against four interceptions.

Ta'amu played at the New Mexico Military Institute for two seasons, passing for 3,014 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore.[1] He transferred to Ole Miss in 2017, entering the season as the backup to Shea Patterson before taking over as the starter for the final five games after Patterson suffered an injury. He finished the season with 1,682 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.[2][3][4][5] He also rushed for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns.[5] With Patterson transferring to the University of Michigan, Ta'amu entered the 2018 season as the starting quarterback.[6] In his senior season he passed for 3,918 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.[5] He also rushed for 342 yards and 6 touchdowns.[5] He finished the season ranked second in SEC passing yards, behind Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, who played in three more games.[7]

Professional career

Houston Texans

On August 7, 2019, Ta'amu signed with the Houston Texans;[8] he was released on August 30, 2019.[9]

St. Louis BattleHawks

On October 15, 2019, Ta'amu was allocated to the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL, the first player for the team.[10] He was the only one of the XFL's first eight quarterbacks to not have any professional regular season experience. He signed a contract with the team on November 4, 2019. On January 29, 2020, Ta'amu was named the starting quarterback.

During the BattleHawks first game against the Dallas Renegades on February 9, Ta'amu threw for 209 yards and a passing touchdown, while rushing for 77 yards, helping the team win a 15–9 victory against the Renegades.[11] He had another productive game in Week 2 against the Houston Roughnecks, with 316 combined yards of offense and four total touchdowns, but threw 2 interceptions as the Battlehawks lost 24–28.[12] After the XFL's season was cut short, Ta'amu was placed on the reserve/other league list on April 2, 2020, in order to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.[13] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[14]

Kansas City Chiefs

Ta'amu signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 2, 2020.[15] On September 5, 2020, he was waived.[16] He was signed to the practice squad the following day.[17] On October 3, 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 reserve list.[18] He was removed from the COVID-19 list on October 21.[19] He was released on October 27.[20]

Detroit Lions

On December 16, 2020, Ta'amu was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.[21]

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

Ta'amu was signed to a reserve/future contract on January 12, 2021.[22][23] He was waived on May 10, 2021.[24]

Detroit Lions (second stint)

Ta'amu signed with the Detroit Lions on August 17, 2021.[25] He was cut six days later on August 23, 2021.[26]

Washington Football Team
Ta'amu in 2021

On December 15, 2021, Ta'amu was signed to the Washington Football Team's practice squad,[27] but was released eight days later. During this time the starting quarterback for Washington was Taylor Heinicke, who was Ta'amu's back up in the XFL.

Carolina Panthers

On December 30, 2021, Ta'amu was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad.[28] He was released on January 4, 2022.

Tampa Bay Bandits

Ta'amu was selected with the second pick of the 2022 USFL draft by the Tampa Bay Bandits. He led the USFL in passing yards at 2,014 and touchdowns with 14.[29]

DC Defenders

Ta'amu was assigned to the DC Defenders of the XFL on January 6, 2023.[30][31] On May 5, 2023, Ta'amu was announced as the XFL's 2023 Offensive Player of the Year.[32]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 21, 2023, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings.[33] He was waived on August 28, 2023.[34]

On September 9, 2023, Ta'amu was revealed to be claimed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League on their negotiation list, as part of the league mandate making ten names from that list public. Under the CFL's terms of employment, the Roughriders will hold exclusive rights to Ta'amu should he seek to play in the CFL unless they remove him from the list.[35]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 221 lb
(100 kg)		 32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m)		 9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		4.77 s1.65 s2.77 s4.36 s7.06 s27.5 in
(0.70 m)		9 ft 1 in
(2.77 m)
All values from NFL Combine[36][37]


Career statistics
Regular Season statistics
Year Team League Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2020STLXFL 559713472.01,0508.052101.3412175.31
2022TBUSFL 101017230257.02,0146.7141276.2593656.11
2023DCXFL 101014322961.81,8947.8143101.6672984.33
Career252541266561.94,9587.4331790.71678805.35
Playoff statistics
Year Team League Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2023DCXFL 22356157.45038.24572.06345.70

References
  1. Morales, Antonio (November 10, 2017). "How did Jordan Ta'amu, a Hawaii native who went to a New Mexico JUCO, end up at Ole Miss?". The Clarion-Ledger. Gannett. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  2. Kellenberger, Hugh (July 17, 2018). "Jordan Ta'amu is the quarterback Ole Miss needs for this moment". The Clarion-Ledger. Gannett. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  3. Sallee, Barrett (July 17, 2018). "Forgotten star of the SEC, Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta'amu ready to emerge from the shadows". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  4. Garrett, Ben (March 8, 2018). "Ta'amu taking ownership in senior season". Oxford Citizen. Daily Journal. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  5. "Jordan Ta'amu Stats". ESPN. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  6. Kellenberger, Hugh (July 17, 2018). "Jordan Ta'amu ready for first season as Ole Miss' fulltime starter". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  7. Spencer, Adam (January 14, 2019). "Quarterback-needy NFL team reportedly spent a lot of time with Jordan Ta'amu after Shrine Game practice". Saturday Down South. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  8. Wilson, Aaron (August 7, 2019). "Texans sign quarterback Jordan Ta'amu". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Communications. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  9. Wilson, Aaron (August 31, 2019). "Texans roster moves: Team trades for Carlos Hyde, Keion Crossen; deals Martinas Rankin". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Communications. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  10. Florio, Mike (October 15, 2019). "XFL announces its eight allocated quarterbacks". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  11. Sullivan, Tyler (February 9, 2020). "XFL scores, highlights in Week 1: New York Guardians, St. Louis BattleHawks earn wins on opening weekend". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  12. Shimabuku, Christian (February 17, 2020). "Pearl City's Jordan Ta'amu throws three touchdowns in Week 2 of XFL action". KHON2. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  13. "XFL Transactions". XFL. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  14. Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". Seattle Times. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  15. Dajani, Jordan (March 23, 2020). "Chiefs sign former St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu after successful XFL season". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  16. Goldman, Charles (September 5, 2020). "Report: Chiefs waive former XFL QB Jordan Ta'amu". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  17. "The Kansas City Chiefs Make Good Use Of New Practice Squad Rules". Forbes.
  18. Baca, Michael (October 3, 2020). "Chiefs practice squad QB Jordan Ta'amu tests positive for COVID-19, placed on reserve list". NFL. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  19. "Jordan Ta'amu: Healthy return to team". CBS Sports. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  20. Goldman, Charles (October 27, 2020). "Chiefs release practice squad QB Jordan Ta'amu". USA Today. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  21. Schlitt, Erik (December 16, 2020). "Lions sign QB Jordan Ta'amu, RB Jordan Scarlett to practice squad". USA Today. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  22. Goldman, Charles (January 15, 2021). "Chiefs sign WR Chad Williams, QB Jordan Ta'amu to reserve/future contracts". Chiefs Wire. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  23. Goldman, Charles (January 12, 2021). "Chiefs sign QB Jordan Ta'amu to practice squad, cut Tyler Clark". Chiefs Wire. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  24. Williams, Charean (May 10, 2021). "Chiefs cut Jordan Ta'amu, Bryan Witzmann". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  25. "Former Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta'amu signs with new NFL team". Saturday Down South. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  26. "Lions cut Darius Jennings, Jordan Ta'amu, three others". ProFootballTalk. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  27. "Washington places 7 players on Reserve/COVID-19 list, designates Sam Cosmi to return from IR, signs 2 to practice squad". Washington Commanders. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  28. Gantt, Darin (December 30, 2021). "Panthers place three more on COVID-19 list, activate one". Carolina Panthers.
  29. Redding, Jared. "Jordan Ta'amu finished first USFL season as a top offensive performer". 247 Spirts. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  30. Mitchell, Mike (January 4, 2023). "Jordan Ta'amu Returns To The XFL, Joins The D.C. Defenders". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  31. @XFLDefenders (January 6, 2023). ".@JTaamu10 has a new home, and it's D.C." (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. "Ta'amu Named 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year". www.xfl.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  33. "Vikings Sign Quarterback Jordan Ta'amu". Vikings.com. August 21, 2023.
  34. "Vikings Begin Roster Reductions Ahead of Final Roster Cut Deadline". Vikings.com. August 28, 2023.
  35. Ten players revealed from each CFL team's negotiation list. CFL.ca. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  36. "Jordan Ta'amu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  37. "2019 Draft Scout Jordan Taamu, Mississippi NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". DraftScount. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
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