Pita Taumoepenu Bio
Pita Taumoepenu (born March 9, 1994) is an American professional football linebacker who currently plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and listed at 250 pounds, he has built his career as an edge rusher known for his speed off the line and disruptive play in the backfield. After a long road through multiple NFL practice squads, Taumoepenu has emerged as one of the top defensive players in spring football, earning league Defensive Player of the Year honors in back-to-back spring seasons.
A graduate of the University of Utah, Taumoepenu first entered professional football when the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Although his early NFL years were spent bouncing between active rosters and practice squads, his transition to the spring leagues has produced the most consistent stretch of his career. He now serves as a foundational piece of the St. Louis Battlehawks defense and a respected veteran of the alternative football landscape.
Early Life and Background
Pita Taumoepenu was born on March 9, 1994, in Euless, Texas. Euless, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, is well known for producing competitive football talent, and Taumoepenu grew up immersed in the culture of the sport. His family later relocated to Utah, where he continued to develop as an athlete during his formative years.
Taumoepenu attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, where he emerged as a strong defensive prospect. His combination of size, speed, and motor drew attention from several college programs, and he ultimately committed to the University of Utah. The move allowed him to stay close to home while competing at the highest level of college football in the region.
Path to American Football
At the University of Utah, Taumoepenu developed into one of the program’s most disruptive defensive players, lining up primarily as an edge rusher and outside linebacker. His quickness and ability to bend around offensive tackles made him a frequent presence in opposing backfields. Over the course of his college career, he earned the attention of NFL scouts evaluating edge talent for the upcoming draft.
Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, Taumoepenu was ranked as the 28th best outside linebacker prospect by CBS Sports. He was one of eight Utah players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he finished second among all defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash and the three-cone drill, trailing only Kansas State’s Jordan Willis, and placed sixth in the short shuttle. He also attended Utah’s pro day, where he performed the majority of his combine drills and met privately with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pita Taumoepenu Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Taumoepenu in the sixth round, 202nd overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft, using a pick previously acquired in a trade that sent Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos. On May 4, 2017, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.54 million contract that included a signing bonus of $145,444. During training camp, he competed for a roster spot against several established linebackers, including Brock Coyle, Eli Harold, and Dekoda Watson.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan named Taumoepenu the third strongside linebacker to open the season, behind Harold and Watson. On September 1, 2018, the 49ers waived him, and he was signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. He was promoted back to the active roster on December 5, 2018, giving him late-season NFL game experience. On May 28, 2019, he was waived by the 49ers, ending his time in San Francisco.
NFL Journeyman Years (2019–2022)
One day after being waived by the 49ers, Taumoepenu was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals on May 29, 2019. He was waived with an injury designation during final roster cuts and reverted to injured reserve, but was released with an injury settlement on September 10, 2019. Later that year, on November 20, he was signed to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, and on January 14, 2020, he signed a reserve/future contract with the team.
Taumoepenu was waived by the Seahawks in May 2020 and rejoined the team briefly in late August before being waived again four days later. On October 20, 2020, he was signed to the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, and on November 7 he was elevated to the active roster for a Week 9 game against the Denver Broncos. After his Falcons contract expired in January 2021, he signed with the Denver Broncos on May 17, 2021, was released in late August, re-signed to the practice squad in September, and was released again on January 5, 2022, closing out his most extended NFL practice-squad tenure.
Spring Football Breakthrough (2023)
Taumoepenu’s career turned a major corner when the Vegas Vipers of the XFL selected him in the 2023 XFL Draft. Playing in the rebooted spring league, he quickly established himself as one of the most dominant edge rushers in the league. On May 4, 2023, he was named the inaugural XFL Defensive Player of the Year, capping a breakout campaign that also included selection to the All-XFL Team and a share of the XFL forced fumbles lead.
He was released from his Vegas Vipers contract on August 7, 2023, and signed with the New York Jets on August 8, but was released on August 28, 2023, without appearing in a regular-season game. The brief return to the NFL did not produce a roster spot, setting the stage for his next spring football move.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2024–Present)
On December 23, 2023, the St. Louis Battlehawks signed Taumoepenu, pairing him with a defensive front that would become one of the most aggressive in spring football. He re-signed with the Battlehawks on October 18, 2024, signaling the organization’s commitment to keeping him as a centerpiece of the defense. His pass-rushing production helped define the Battlehawks’ identity during the 2025 United Football League season.
During the 2025 UFL season, Taumoepenu finished with the most sacks in the league and was named to the All-UFL Team. He was also recognized as the 2025 UFL Defensive Player of the Year, joining his 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year award as the defining individual honors of his professional career. He now wears number 7 for the Battlehawks and remains an active, foundational defender for the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Taumoepenu is a speed-based edge rusher whose game is built on first-step quickness, leverage, and the ability to redirect around offensive tackles. His combine-tested speed, which placed him among the fastest defensive linemen in his draft class, continues to define his rushing style, allowing him to threaten the edge on passing downs. He pairs that burst with a relentless motor and a willingness to pursue plays sideline to sideline.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Taumoepenu’s career are his 2017 draft selection by the San Francisco 49ers, his 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year award with the Vegas Vipers, and his 2025 UFL Defensive Player of the Year and sack title with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Reaching back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors in the XFL and UFL is a rare distinction that cements his place as one of the most accomplished defenders in modern spring football history.
Pita Taumoepenu Career Wins
While linebackers and edge rushers are not typically measured by traditional win totals the way quarterbacks or running backs are, Pita Taumoepenu’s career can be framed by signature individual victories, including league awards, sack titles, and roster battles won across multiple organizations. His most prominent individual wins came in the form of back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards, and his most recent victory was his 2025 UFL sack title with the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Spring League Highlights
Taumoepenu’s spring football journey includes his 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year award and All-XFL Team selection with the Vegas Vipers, followed by his 2025 UFL Defensive Player of the Year award, All-UFL Team selection, and league sack title with the St. Louis Battlehawks. He also led the XFL in forced fumbles during the 2023 season, adding another statistical crown to his resume.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his spring league success, Taumoepenu earned roster promotions and practice-squad opportunities with the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos, demonstrating sustained evaluation from NFL organizations. At the college level, his combine performance, including second-place finishes in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill among defensive linemen, stands as one of the most efficient pre-draft showings of his class.
Pita Taumoepenu Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Pita Taumoepenu’s immediate family is limited. He is not known to come from a documented football lineage, and his parents and siblings have not been publicly profiled in verified sources. What is clear is that he was raised in Euless, Texas, before his family moved to Utah, where he completed his high school education at Timpview High School in Provo.
Personal Life
Verified details about Pita Taumoepenu’s personal life, including his marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly available in the sources reviewed. He maintains a public presence on social media, including an X account, where fans can follow his professional updates. Beyond his playing career, he is widely regarded as a respected locker-room presence for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 United Football League season represented the high point of Pita Taumoepenu’s professional career to date. Serving as a starting edge rusher for the St. Louis Battlehawks, he led the entire UFL in sacks and was recognized as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. His pass-rushing production helped set the tone for a Battlehawks defense that ranked among the most disruptive in the UFL.
His 2025 campaign followed a steady trajectory of growth after joining the Battlehawks in late 2023. By pairing his experience with the team’s defensive scheme, Taumoepenu delivered the most consistent statistical output of his career, finishing the season as both a sack leader and an All-UFL selection. His double-team attention also opened up opportunities for teammates on the opposite side of the line.
Looking ahead, Taumoepenu enters the offseason as one of the most respected defenders in spring football and a likely cornerstone of the Battlehawks’ plans for 2026. With back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards now on his resume, his market value, both within the UFL and potentially back in the NFL, has rarely been higher. Continued production at his current pace would further cement his legacy as one of the premier edge rushers of his era.
