For San Francisco 49ers fans, 2017 might feel like a distant memory — notable mainly as the year head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch first took over the team.
One of Lynch’s final picks in that year’s somewhat contentious draft class was edge rusher Pita Taumoepenu, a relatively unknown prospect out of Utah selected in the seventh round. At 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, Taumoepenu was viewed as a raw talent needing significant development. Over his first two seasons with the 49ers, he played in just six games, often moving between the active roster and the practice squad. He later saw brief action with the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos, but his time in the NFL never truly took off.
Now with the St. Louis Battlehawks, where he’s played the past two seasons, Taumoepenu has emerged as a top defensive performer. He’s been racking up sacks and was recently named to the All-UFL Team for his standout play.
He’s joined on that list by former 49ers defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr.
Taumoepenu finished the 2025 regular season leading the UFL with 7.5 sacks in nine games — a major factor in the Battlehawks reaching the XFL Conference Championship game against the D.C. Defenders this weekend.
At 31, Taumoepenu may remain in the UFL as a key contributor. Yet there’s still a slim chance he could parlay his success into another shot in the NFL. While a comeback might be a long shot, his continued development could catch the eye of a team in need of pass-rushing depth.