Sione Takitaki

Sione Takitaki
refer to caption
Takitaki in 2019
No. 44 – Cleveland Browns
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: 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 17, 2023
Total tackles: 268
Sacks: 4.0
Pass deflections: 4
Interceptions: 2
Forced fumbles: 2
Fumble recoveries: 1
Touchdowns: 1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

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.

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.

Professional career

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

Takitaki was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round with the 80th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

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. Takitaki was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on November 25, 2020, and activated on December 4. 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.

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.

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.

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

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. Takitaki married Alyssa Penney on June 14, 2016, in Sacramento, California.

His father died when he was 14. 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.

Career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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

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