FOXBOROUGH, Mass - The minute Sione Takitaki sat down to talk to reporters on Thursday afternoon, his excitement about joining the New England Patriots was evident.
And with that, he emphasized how incredible of an opportunity it is to get to play for head coach Jerod Mayo and linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower, both of whom had incredible careers as linebackers with the Patriots before transitioning into coaching.
“Yeah, obviously they played for a while. Me being a linebacker, I watched them growing up,” Takitaki said. “The style and the way they use their linebackers here, the Patriots for a long time. I feel like it fits my mold, so I’ve always watched them from afar. Even when I was young, growing up. Even when I got to the league when I was at Cleveland. I always watched them, their style of play. They’re so aggressive. The linebackers move around, the versatility they have.
“So, I’m real familiar with those guys. It’s cool to be coached by Hightower – a great and learn from him, be a sponge from him. Even Mayo, being a head coach. Excited for him, too, to come (here) and learn from these guys.”
Takitaki signed with the Patriots on a 2-year, $6.5 million deal worth up to $10.3 million at the start of free agency.
He spent the past five seasons with Cleveland since being drafted in the third round of the 2019 Draft. And Takitaki is already familiar with some faces in the Patriots organization, with Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith having been with Cleveland at the time.
Last season, he finished with 66 tackles, two sacks and one interception across 15 games.
While he is joining an impressive group of linebackers, he also has a star staff of coaches who will help him develop.
“Linebackers like Hightower and Mayo, Mayo’s another linebacker who’s done it at a high level – Pro Bowl, All-Pro,” Takitaki said. “These guys have played at a high level. (Mayo) understands the guys and I can relate it to Hightower. He’s talking to us and understands the grind in and out from the field to the classroom. He can relate to us from that standpoint."
And as he walked off, his last message said it all.
“I’m just happy to be here, man," the new linebacker exclaimed. "I know it’s new times here. I’m new, but just from the last couple of days, I’m excited. You guys should be pumped. I am.”
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