Will Taʻufoʻou
{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Will Taʻufoʻou
| image = Will Ta'ufo'ou at 2008 Emerald Bowl.JPG
| caption = Taʻufoʻou during his tenure at Cal at the 2008 Emerald Bowl
| current_team =
| number = 45
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|6|19|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Redwood City, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 247
| high_school = Saint Francis
(Mountain View, California)
| college = California
| undraftedyear = 2009
| pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2012}})*
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 18
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 126
}}
Will Taʻufoʻou ({{IPAc-en|t|aʊ|ˈ|f|oʊ|.|oʊ}}; born June 19, 1986) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at California.
College career
Taʻufoʻou played at Cal for four years, during which running backs Marshawn Lynch (2005 and 2006), Justin Forsett (2007), and Jahvid Best (2008) each ran for more than 1,000 yards, with Best becoming the 2008 Pac-10 rushing leader.{{cite web|url=http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042709aab.html |title=Three Former Cal Players Sign NFL Free Agent Contracts |publisher=University of California |date=April 27, 2009 |accessdate=April 30, 2009}}
Professional career
=Chicago Bears=
Taʻufoʻou was signed by the Chicago Bears as a free agent on April 27, 2009. He was waived on September 4 and was placed on the team's practice squad on September 5, where he remained the entire season.
After his practice squad contract expired at season's end, Taʻufoʻou was re-signed to a future contract by the Bears on January 4, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/bears-expected-to-sign-players-to-futures-contracts.html|title=Chicago Breaking Sports News - Chicago Tribune|website=www.chicagobreakingsports.com|date=May 26, 2023}} He re-signed with the Bears again on July 29, 2011. He was waived on September 6.
=Cleveland Browns=
The Cleveland Browns signed him to their practice squad on September 14, 2011. He was released from the practice squad on November 8.
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Ta'ufo'ou on July 28, 2012. He was waived, signed to the practice squad, and promoted to the active roster multiple times in the 2012 season. He appeared in six games. He was signed to the active roster at the conclusion of the 2012 season.
In the 2013 preseason, Ta'ufo'ou assumed the starting fullback position after the departure of nine-year veteran Greg Jones.
He became a free agent after the 2014 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/sports/2015/07/14/jackonsville-jaguars-fullback-extinction/30062583/|title=For better or worse, Jaguars the latest team to fumble fullback position|publisher=}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taufoou_will00.html California Golden Bears bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ta'ufo'ou, Will}}
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:American people of Tongan descent
Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:California Golden Bears football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Players of American football from Redwood City, California
Category:Players of American football from Santa Clara County, California
Category:Tennessee Titans players
Category:Saint Francis High School (Mountain View, California) alumni
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football