Sione Takitaki

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

Sione Takitaki
refer to caption
Takitaki in 2019
No. 44 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-06-08) June 8, 1995
Fontana, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 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 Week 6, 2023
Total tackles:215
Sacks:4.0
Pass deflections:1
Interceptions:1
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:2
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

College career

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
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench 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 s1.60 s2.70 s4.28 s7.21 s37.0 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3][4]

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]

Personal life

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.[13] [14] Takitaki married Alyssa Penney on June 14, 2016, in Sacramento, California.[15]

His father died when he was 14.[16] 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.[17]

Career statistics
Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSackTFLIntYardsAvgLngTDPDFFFR
2019CLE 151211470.00000.000000
2020CLE 15126741261.0215050.0501100
2021CLE 1584421230.05000.000011
2022CLE 1287136351.04000.000010
Career5729203112912.01115050.0501121

Postseason
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSackTFLIntYardsAvgLngTDPDFFFR
2020CLE 228530.0012323.0230100
Career228530.0012323.0230100

References
  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. "Browns Linebacker Sione Takitaki Seals Wild Card Win Over Steelers With Interception". Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  11. "Browns place LB Sione Takitaki on injured reserve, sign LB Reggie Ragland". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 7, 2022.
  12. "Browns re-sign LB Sione Takitaki". ClevelandBrowns.com. March 16, 2023.
  13. "Sione Takitaki: Athlete Profile". BYU Cougars. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  14. Zenger, Sydney (October 8, 2018). "Family, faith and football led Takitaki to BYU". BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  15. 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.
  16. "BYU LB Sione Takitaki's 1st press conference as a Cleveland Brown". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  17. 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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