Shaka Toney Bio
Shaka Felton Toney (born January 7, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end who currently plays for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). A Philadelphia native, Toney rose through the high school ranks before starring at Penn State, where he earned consecutive All-Big Ten honors. He entered the NFL after being selected by the Washington Football Team in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft and has since navigated stops with Washington, Dallas, and St. Louis.
Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 238 pounds, Toney built his reputation as a relentless pass rusher whose game has translated from Big Ten trenches to professional football fields. After serving an NFL suspension tied to league gambling policies, he returned to the field in 2024 and reunited with professional football through the UFL in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Shaka Felton Toney was born on January 7, 1998, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a city long known for producing tough, physical football players. He attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, where he developed into one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the state.
As a senior, Toney was named the Pennsylvania Football News Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-State recognition after recording 97 tackles and 21 sacks. Those numbers quickly drew the attention of major college programs looking for edge-rushing prospects, and Toney committed to Penn State to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
Toney’s path to professional football began in the Philadelphia prep scene, where his combination of length, quickness, and finishing instincts set him apart from other defensive ends in his class. His senior production at Imhotep made him a priority recruit for Penn State, where the Nittany Lions have a long track record of sending edge rushers to the NFL.
At Penn State, Toney redshirted his true freshman season before working his way into the defensive rotation. As a redshirt freshman, he posted 20 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles, earning a spot on the Big Ten Network’s All-Freshman team. He continued to add strength and refine his technique in subsequent seasons, finishing his redshirt sophomore year with 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. By his third active season, Toney was named second-team All-Big Ten after recording 41 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, and he later added first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2020.
Shaka Toney Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Toney’s early career was defined by his steady development inside Penn State’s defensive line room. After redshirting in 2016, he progressively increased his production each season, leaning on his hand technique and motor to win reps against Big Ten offensive tackles. His All-Freshman selection marked him as one of the conference’s top young edge players.
By the end of his college career, Toney had stacked 6.5 sacks and second-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2019, followed by first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2020. Those back-to-back conference awards pushed his draft stock into the late-round conversation and set the stage for his professional opportunity.
NFL Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Toney was selected by the Washington Football Team in the seventh round, 246th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021, and immediately began working into the defensive end rotation. The breakthrough moment came in Week 12 of his rookie season, when Toney recorded his first career sack in a 17–15 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Over his time in Washington, Toney appeared as a rotational edge rusher, finishing his NFL career with the Washington franchise having recorded 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His tenure with the club, however, took an unexpected turn on April 21, 2023, when the NFL suspended him indefinitely for betting on NFL games during the 2022 season.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024)
After being reinstated on April 18, 2024, Toney was released by Washington four days later, opening the door for a fresh opportunity. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys on August 1, 2024, looking to compete for a depth role on the defensive line.
That stint proved brief, as Toney was waived with an injury designation on August 14, 2024. Despite the short stay in Dallas, the move showed that teams around the league still viewed him as a pass-rushing prospect worth developing.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2025–Present)
Toney signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League on June 3, 2025, returning to professional football in the spring league. The move gave him a chance to log meaningful game action and rebuild his resume in front of NFL scouts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toney’s game has always centered on quick first-step explosiveness, active hands, and the motor to chase plays away from his gap. His Penn State background prepared him for power-based run defense, while his collegiate sack totals reflect an edge rusher comfortable winning with speed around the corner. He is best deployed as a rotational defensive end who can pinch the pocket on passing downs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Toney’s signature moments are his first NFL sack against the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, his 2020 first-team All-Big Ten selection, and his return to professional football with the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2025 after navigating an NFL suspension.
Shaka Toney Career Wins
Shaka Toney’s win total is best measured in team victories during his NFL and UFL stops, including a 17–15 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in which he recorded his first career sack. Across his professional career, his milestones have come through individual statistical accomplishments rather than trophy hauls.
NFL Highlights
Toney’s most celebrated NFL moment was his first career sack against Seattle in Week 12 of the 2021 season, a tightly contested win that marked his arrival as a pass rusher at the professional level. He closed his time in Washington with 16 tackles and 1.5 career sacks before his suspension and subsequent release in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the NFL, Toney’s 21-sack senior season at Imhotep Charter stands as his most prolific statistical run, and his first-team All-Big Ten nod in 2020 served as the crowning achievement of his college career.
Shaka Toney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Shaka Toney’s family is limited, and detailed records about his parents and siblings are not widely available.
Personal Life
Toney was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his football roots run deep through the city’s strong high school football tradition. Beyond his playing career, he has largely kept his personal and family life private.
2025 Season Performance
Toney’s 2025 storyline centers on his fresh start with the St. Louis Battlehawks after joining the UFL roster on June 3, 2025. The move came on the heels of his 2024 return to the NFL, where he signed briefly with the Dallas Cowboys before being waived with an injury designation.
In St. Louis, Toney is positioned as a veteran edge presence on a defensive line eager for proven pass-rushing production. His experience rotating along a Big Ten front and contributing to an NFL rotation in Washington makes him a useful piece for a spring league roster. The 2025 campaign gives him the opportunity to rebuild his professional resume and re-open the door to additional NFL opportunities.
Outlook for the season revolves around Toney staying healthy, producing consistent pressure, and showing that his tools still translate at a high level. A productive year with the Battlehawks could put him back on NFL radars heading into 2026.
