Tag Archives: colorado xo

Tupou, Tani ‘Tongan Thor’

CARD: Topps AAF 2019
ACQUIRED: 2019, Box Breaker

Tani Tupou played college ball for the Washington Huskies from 2010 to 2015 at defensive tackle. He recorded 59 career tackles and was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Seahawks liked what they saw out of Tupou during mini camp and invited him back. He made the roster and saw action briefly during the season opener but didn’t record any stats, and be released about a month later. In 2017, he successfully transitioned from the Spring League back to the NFL signing with the Atlanta Falcons. Tupou would be on and off the roster through the season and into early 2018.

After a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Tani signed with the Alliance of American Football. He’d be assigned to the San Diego Fleet for the 2019 season, and recorded 13 tackles, 4 QB hits and a sack in the Fleet’s 3-4 alignment. In April of that year, the AAF folded, so he played for the XFL with the Seattle Dragons in 2020, and then later for the Jousters of the Spring League, during their showcase in San Antonio.

In 2021, Tani made the transition to play for the Colorado XO’s of the World Rugby League and is considered one of the top prospects.