Jordan Taamu Bio
Jordan Taalolo Ta’amu-Perifanos, known professionally as Jordan Ta’amu, is an American professional football quarterback for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). Born on December 10, 1997, in Pearl City, Hawaii, he has built a career that spans several National Football League (NFL) practice squads and multiple spring football leagues. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ta’amu carved out a reputation as a productive pocket passer and capable runner in the XFL, USFL, and UFL.
He first gained national attention as the starting quarterback for the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020 and later led the Tampa Bay Bandits in passing during the 2022 USFL season. In 2023, he earned XFL Offensive Player of the Year honors with the DC Defenders, and in 2025 he was named UFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player while leading the Defenders to the UFL title. Standing 6 ft 3 in and weighing 225 lb, Ta’amu remains an active starter in professional spring football.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Taalolo Ta’amu-Perifanos was born and raised in Pearl City, Hawaii, a small community on the island of Oahu. He attended Pearl City High School, where he developed into a promising quarterback prospect. As a senior, he passed for 1,779 yards and threw 29 touchdowns against only four interceptions, establishing himself as one of the state’s most productive high school passers.
Following high school, Ta’amu chose to begin his collegiate career at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a junior college program known for developing NFL-caliber talent. He spent two seasons with the NMMI Broncos from 2015 to 2016, posting impressive numbers as a sophomore, when he passed for 3,014 yards and 32 touchdowns. His performance at the junior college level earned him attention from major Division I programs.
In 2017, Ta’amu transferred to the University of Mississippi, widely known as Ole Miss, to play for the Ole Miss Rebels. He entered the season as the backup to Shea Patterson but took over as the starter for the final five games after Patterson suffered an injury. That year, he finished with 1,682 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, while also rushing for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. With Patterson transferring to the University of Michigan, Ta’amu entered the 2018 season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback.
Path to American Football
Ta’amu’s path to professional football was shaped by patience and persistence. After his standout sophomore season at NMMI, he transitioned to the Southeastern Conference, one of college football’s most competitive leagues, and quickly earned a starting role at Ole Miss. In his senior season in 2018, he passed for 3,918 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, adding 342 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. He finished the year ranked second in the SEC in passing yards, trailing only Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, who played in three additional games.
Despite his productive college career, Ta’amu went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, beginning a stretch in which he would bounce between NFL practice squads and active rosters. On October 15, 2019, he was allocated to the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL as the first player assigned to the team, and he later signed his contract on November 4, 2019. When the BattleHawks named him their starting quarterback on January 29, 2020, he became the only one of the XFL’s first eight quarterbacks without prior professional regular-season experience.
Jordan Taamu Career
Early Career (2019)
Ta’amu’s professional career began in the summer of 2019, when he signed with the Houston Texans on August 7. He was released on August 30, 2019, before the start of the regular season. Rather than step away from the game, he was allocated to the St. Louis BattleHawks of the newly formed XFL on October 15, 2019, becoming the first player officially assigned to the team.
He signed his BattleHawks contract on November 4, 2019, and was named the starting quarterback on January 29, 2020. In the BattleHawks’ first game against the Dallas Renegades on February 9, he threw for 209 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 77 yards, helping his team win 15–9. A week later against the Houston Roughnecks, he produced 316 combined yards of offense and four total touchdowns, though he also threw two interceptions in a 24–28 loss.
St. Louis BattleHawks Breakthrough (2020)
Ta’amu’s tenure with the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020 represented his first sustained opportunity as a professional starter. As the team’s lead signal-caller, he showed poise and dual-threat ability, balancing efficient passing with productive runs. The BattleHawks played five games before the XFL’s season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 2, 2020, Ta’amu was placed on the reserve/other league list so he could sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. When the XFL suspended operations on April 10, 2020, his BattleHawks contract was terminated. Although the spring season was short, his play had caught the attention of multiple NFL organizations, setting the stage for a busy stretch of practice-squad movement.
USFL Success with Tampa Bay Bandits (2022)
After several practice-squad stints with NFL teams, Ta’amu was selected with the second overall pick of the 2022 USFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Bandits. The selection gave him a chance to return to a full-time starting role, and he delivered one of the most productive statistical seasons in the league’s brief history.
With the Bandits, Ta’amu led the USFL in passing yards with 2,014 and in passing touchdowns with 14, earning recognition as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. His strong performance helped re-establish him as a starter in spring football and led to new opportunities once the XFL returned.
DC Defenders Era (2023–Present)
On January 6, 2023, Ta’amu was assigned to the DC Defenders of the XFL, quickly becoming the team’s starting quarterback. His play during the 2023 season was exceptional, and on May 5, 2023, he was announced as the XFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the All-XFL Team, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite passers.
After a brief return to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in August 2023, Ta’amu re-signed with the DC Defenders on February 22, 2024. He re-signed again on January 14, 2025, for the 2025 UFL season. In Week 7 of 2025, he completed 19 of 24 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, earning UFL Offensive Player of the Week honors. He finished the 2025 regular season leading the league with 17 passing touchdowns. On June 14, 2025, Ta’amu was named UFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player after setting a UFL record with 390 passing yards and five total touchdowns as the Defenders defeated the Michigan Panthers 58–34 to win the UFL Championship.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ta’amu is widely regarded as a strong-armed, dual-threat quarterback capable of producing in both the pocket and on the run. He demonstrates solid accuracy on intermediate and downfield throws, and his rushing ability adds another dimension to his offensive game. His experience operating in multiple offensive systems, including the XFL, USFL, and UFL, has made him a confident, adaptable leader at the line of scrimmage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ta’amu’s most memorable achievements are his 2023 XFL Offensive Player of the Year award, his 2022 USFL passing titles, and his record-setting 2025 UFL Championship Game performance. His 390 passing yards and five total touchdowns in the title game set a UFL record, and the Defenders’ 58 total points also established a new league mark. In 2025, he also became one of only a handful of American professional spring football quarterbacks to surpass 10,000 career passing yards.
Jordan Taamu Career Wins
Jordan Taamu’s career includes a UFL Championship won with the DC Defenders in 2025, along with the UFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player award. He earned the XFL Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2023 and was selected to the All-XFL Team that same season. In 2022, he led the USFL in both passing yards and passing touchdowns while playing for the Tampa Bay Bandits, and in 2025 he led the UFL in passing touchdowns.
UFL Highlights
During the 2025 UFL season, Ta’amu led the DC Defenders to the league championship, defeating the Michigan Panthers 58–34 in the title game. He set a UFL record with 390 passing yards in that game and added five total touchdowns while earning Championship Game MVP honors. He also finished the regular season as the league’s passing touchdowns leader with 17 scores.
Other Wins & Performances
Ta’amu earned the XFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023 and was named to the All-XFL Team. He also led the 2022 USFL in both passing yards (2,014) and passing touchdowns (14) as a member of the Tampa Bay Bandits, marking one of the most productive individual statistical seasons in his professional career.
Jordan Taamu Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Taalolo Ta’amu-Perifanos was raised in Pearl City, Hawaii. Public sources do not provide detailed information about his parents or extended family at this time, and no racing lineage is associated with his background as a football player.
Personal Life
Ta’amu was born and raised in Pearl City, Hawaii, where he attended Pearl City High School. He has continued his professional career in the United States, playing for multiple NFL organizations and spring football teams. Verified public details about his spouse, children, and other personal relationships are not currently available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 UFL season was the most successful of Jordan Ta’amu’s professional career. He led the DC Defenders throughout the regular season and into the playoffs, capping the year with a dominant performance in the UFL Championship Game. He finished the regular season as the league’s passing touchdowns leader with 17 scores, reinforcing his reputation as one of the top quarterbacks in professional spring football.
His championship performance set new league standards, including a UFL record 390 passing yards and five total touchdowns, earning him UFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player honors. The Defenders’ 58 total points in that game also set a new UFL record, underscoring the offensive explosion Ta’amu led. His Week 7 performance earlier in the season, when he completed 19 of 24 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, earned him UFL Offensive Player of the Week.
With a championship, an MVP award, and a passing title all in one season, Ta’amu enters the next chapter of his career as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in modern spring football history. He is expected to continue serving as a central figure for the DC Defenders as the UFL moves forward.