As first reported last night by XFL News Hub’s Mike Mitchell, reigning XFL Defensive Player of the Year LB Pita Taumoepenu is joining the St. Louis Battlehawks. Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht posted about the news this morning on Twitter/X, and the move was later confirmed on the XFL.com transactions page.
Last season for the Vegas Vipers, Taumoepenu finished second in the league in sacks with 7.5, while also posting 26 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He led the XFL in forced fumbles with four, recovering one. He was voted to the All-XFL team and was also named Defensive Player of the Year.
Following the 2023 XFL season, Taumoepenu signed with the New York Jets. He was released at the end of training camp. All players who left to join the NFL were to have their rights revert back to their original XFL team; however, because the Vipers will not be a part of the new, merged league, Taumoepenu was free to sign with any XFL squad.
In 2023, the Battlehawks had the second-fewest sacks in the XFL. They were looking to upgrade their pass rush this off-season and have found arguably the best pass rusher on the market.
