Pronounced see-OH-nay TOCK-ee-TOCK-ee
Takitaki, 28, was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent from Cleveland on March 14, 2024 ... Originally drafted by Cleveland in the third round (80th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft ... Re-signed by Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent (3/16/24).
- Placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List on Aug. 27.
- Returned to practice the week of the game vs. Miami (10/6).
- Made debut with the Patriots vs. Houston (10/13) after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. Saw action on the opening kickoff and at linebacker in the second quarter. Assisted on 1 special teams tackle.
- Serves as a reserve linebacker and as a member of several special teams units.
- Inactive at Jacksonville (10/20).
- Made his first defensive tackle as a Patriot at Tennessee (11/3).
- Made his first start as a member of the Patriots at linebacker in place of the injured LB Christian Elliss at Chicago (11/10). Contributed to holding the Bears offense to just 142 total yards, the fewest allowed by the Patriots since Nov. 20, 2022, when they held the New York Jets to 103 yards.
2023 (15/7, 1/1) - Cleveland)
• Played in 15 games with 7 starts and finished the year with 64 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed and 2 special teams tackles.
• Recorded an interception in the fourth quarter vs. Arizona (11/5).
• Registered a career-high 16 total tackles vs N.Y. Jets (12/28).
• Started in the Wild Card game at Houston (1/13).
• Played in 12 games with 8 starts and finished with a career-high 69 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 2 special teams tackles.
• Sustained a season-ending knee injury at Houston (12/4) and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 6.
• Played in 15 games with 8 starts and finished with 36 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 5 special teams tackles.
• Left the game Week 3 vs. Cincinnati (9/26) with a head injury and was inactive Week 4 at Green Bay (10/3).
2020 (15/12, 2/2) - Cleveland)
• Played 15 games with 12 starts and finished with 55 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception that he returned 50 yards for a touchdown and a team-leading 12 special teams tackles.
• Started both postseason games, vs. Pittsburgh (1/10) in the Wild Card round and at Kansas City in the Divisional round (1/17) and finished with 8 total tackles and 1 interception.
• Registered his first career interception when he picked off QB Carson Wentz and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter vs. Philadelphia (11/22).
• Played in 15 games with 1 start and finished with 16 total tackles and 5 special teams tackles.
• Made his first NFL start vs. Baltimore (12/22).
• In four seasons (2014-18) at BYU, he totaled 237 total tackles, with 32.5 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks.
• As a senior, he served as a team captain and led the team with 118 total tackles.
• Set a BYU record for total tackles in a bowl game with 19 during the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
• Married (Alyssa), who was a swimmer at BYU.
• Attended Heritage High School in Menifee, Calf. and also played volleyball.
• Majored in sociology at BYU.
• Youngest of seven with two brothers and four sisters.
