Tautala Pesefea Bio
Tautala “TJ” Pesefea Jr. (born June 25, 2000) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for American River and Arizona State before launching his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL) in 2023 as an undrafted free agent. Known for his resilience and an inspiring personal journey, he has continued his career in the United Football League (UFL), most recently joining the Orlando Storm.
Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 314 lb (142 kg), Pesefea wears jersey number 93 and plays along the interior defensive line. His career has taken him from Sacramento, California, to the NFL preseason, to the spring football ranks, where he has built a reputation for hard work and perseverance.
Early Life and Background
Tautala “TJ” Pesefea Jr. was born on June 25, 2000, in Sacramento, California. He is the third of four children born to his father, Tautala Pesefea Sr., and his mother, Annie Chang. He has a brother named Nick Pesefea-Chang. Growing up in Sacramento shaped the foundation of his athletic development and competitive drive.
Pesefea attended Foothill High School, where he stood 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighed about 270 lb (120 kg) as a teenager. He was a two-sport athlete, competing in both basketball and football. On the gridiron, he played tight end and defensive end for the Foothill Mustangs, gaining early experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He graduated in 2018 and was rated as a three-star collegiate recruiting prospect.
At eight years of age, Pesefea was struck by a car and survived the accident. During his high school years, his remarkable recovery story earned him a Most Inspirational Player of the Year recognition, a distinction that foreshadowed the determination he would later bring to his professional career.
Path to American Football
After high school, Pesefea began his college career at American River College, a community college program. Playing alongside the American River Beavers during the 2018 season, he appeared in nine games and finished his freshman year with 17 tackles, showing the physical tools and motor that would define his style at the next level.
In 2019, Pesefea transferred to Arizona State University, where he joined the Sun Devils as a defensive lineman. He competed for the program across multiple seasons and ultimately played in 40 games, finishing his Arizona State tenure with 76 total tackles after redshirting his junior and senior seasons. While on campus, he majored in liberal studies, balancing his academic and athletic responsibilities.
His combination of size, effort, and developmental production at Arizona State helped position him for a shot at the professional ranks, even as he went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tautala Pesefea Career
Early Career (2023)
Pesefea signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 12, 2023, earning an opportunity as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State. He competed during the preseason and appeared in three games while working to carve out a role along the Bengals’ interior defensive line.
His initial NFL stint was cut short when an elbow injury placed him on injured reserve. He was later waived on September 12, 2023, ending his first professional chapter but not his football journey.
St. Louis Battlehawks Breakthrough (2024–2025)
On August 14, 2024, Pesefea signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League, the top spring football league in the country. The move gave him a platform to restart his career and re-establish himself as an interior defensive lineman in a full professional setting.
Wearing number 93, he contributed on the Battlehawks’ defensive front across the 2024 and 2025 UFL seasons. His time in St. Louis allowed him to develop further as a pass rusher and run defender while learning the nuances of a fast-paced spring schedule. The Battlehawks tenure also brought him under head coach Anthony Becht, whose system helped shape his next opportunity.
Orlando Storm Era (2026–Present)
On January 14, 2026, Pesefea was selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft, reuniting him with former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. The selection marked another step forward in his professional journey and signaled the league’s continued belief in his potential.
He was released on March 12, 2026, ending his brief tenure with Orlando. Even so, his path from the Bengals’ preseason roster to the Battlehawks and then the Storm highlights the persistence that has defined his professional football career to this point.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pesefea is a power-oriented defensive tackle who leverages his 6 ft 3 in frame and 314-pound listed weight to anchor against the run and pressure the pocket. His development at American River and Arizona State built a foundation of leverage, effort, and gap discipline, traits that translated to professional competition with the Bengals and the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond the field, his most notable personal milestone is surviving being struck by a car at age eight, an experience that earned him a Most Inspirational Player of the Year award in high school. Professionally, his milestones include signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in May 2023, joining the St. Louis Battlehawks in August 2024, and being selected by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft.
Tautala Pesefea Career Wins
Pesefea’s professional record centers on team contributions rather than individual statistical milestones, and verified win totals across his stops with the Cincinnati Bengals, St. Louis Battlehawks, and Orlando Storm are not documented in the available sources. As a result, a series-by-series win summary is not included to avoid speculation.
Other Wins & Performances
His most significant verifiable performances include 17 tackles in nine games during his freshman season at American River in 2018 and 76 total tackles across 40 games at Arizona State. These college numbers reflect a steady developmental arc that ultimately led to his professional opportunities.
Tautala Pesefea Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pesefea comes from a close family that has been central to his journey. He is the third of four children and shares a close bond with his brother, Nick Pesefea-Chang, reflecting the multicultural family background of his parents.
Personal Life
He is the son of Tautala Pesefea Sr. and Annie Chang. His family’s support has been a constant throughout his career, from his high school years at Foothill, where his survival story earned him a Most Inspirational Player of the Year award, through his transition into professional football with the Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Battlehawks.
2025 Season Performance
Pesefea entered the 2025 UFL season with the St. Louis Battlehawks, continuing his role as an interior defensive lineman under head coach Anthony Becht. He remained a depth and rotation piece along the defensive front, providing size and power against the run while pursuing growth as a pass rusher.
His tenure with the Battlehawks gave him stability and the chance to compete in a professional setting for consecutive seasons, building on the foundation he had laid during the 2024 campaign. Specific 2025 statistical totals are not documented in the available sources.
Looking ahead, his selection in the 2026 UFL Draft and his brief time with the Orlando Storm kept him in professional football’s spotlight, and his career arc from undrafted free agent to multi-team professional defensive tackle remains a compelling storyline for fans tracking the UFL.