| Detroit Lions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Nose tackle | ||||
Roster status | Practice squad | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | October 6, 1999 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | ||||
Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
Listed weight | 324 lb (147 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | East (Salt Lake City, Utah) | ||||
| College | Washington (2018–2021) Oregon (2022–2023) | ||||
| NFL draft | 2024: undrafted | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| |||||
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2026 | |||||
| |||||
Sam "Taki" Taimani (born October 6, 1999) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies.
Taimani attended East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Washington Huskies.
In week 3 of the 2020 season, Taimani notched five tackles in a win over Utah. In week 5 of the 2021 season, in a loss to Oregon State, he recovered a fumble which he returned 13 yards inside the Beavers 10-yard line. In week 10 of the 2021 season, Taimani made the start where he tallied four tackles in a loss against Oregon.
In his first four seasons at Washington from 2018 to 2021 Taimani totaled 71 tackles with three and a half being for a loss, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. After the 2021 season, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Taimani transferred to play for the Oregon Ducks. In his final two seasons with Oregon in 2022 and 2023, he recorded 36 tackles with two and a half being for a loss, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) | 309 lb (140 kg) | 31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) | 10+3⁄4 in (0.27 m) | 6 ft 5+1⁄2 in (1.97 m) | 5.33 s | 1.84 s | 3.04 s | 5.03 s | 7.95 s | 25 in (0.64 m) | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) | 19 reps |
| All values from Pro Day | ||||||||||||
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 7th round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, 2024. Taimani made the Vikings' initial 53-man roster.
On August 26, 2025, Taimani was waived by the Vikings as part of final roster cuts and was signed to the practice squad the next day. On January 2, 2026, Taimani was signed to the active roster.
On August 24, 2026, Taimani was waived with an injury designation and reverted to injured reserve the next day. On September 22, he was waived.
On October 27, 2026, Taimani signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad.