Fan-favorite BJ Taufalele (tao-FA-lay-lay) is back with the Bay Area Panthers for the 2025 Indoor Football League season. This will be Taufalele’s third year at the IFL level, having also spent time with the Frisco Fighters.
A 6-foot-3 hybrid linebacker, Taufalele can thrive at various positions in Panthers Head Coach Rob Keefe’s defense.
After a 2024 campaign wherein Taufalele produced 41.5 tackles, 6.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks, his potential is exciting. He also had a pick-six and was a star on special teams for Bay Area, recovering four onside kicks and blocking several field goals—expect him to further his progress with the Panthers in 2025.
In 2023, Taufalele was a member of the Frisco Fighters. He appeared in 13 games for the Fighters, collecting seven TFL. That year, Frisco led the IFL by allowing only 39.0 PPG and the dynamic Taufalele was a major reason why.
Collegiately, Taufalele played at Weber State University in Odgen, UT from 2017 to 2021. There, he and the Wildcats won the Big Sky title in four consecutive seasons. His best year at WSU came in 2019 behind 27 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, one sack and one interception.
Taufalele graduated from Weber State with degrees in Health Administrative Services, Health Promotions & Education (2020) and Business Administration (2022).
As a native of South Jordan, UT, Taufalele played prep football at Bingham High School (? 2016). His junior year showcased a state championship for the Miners. For his senior campaign, he earned All-State honors after logging 82 tackles with one sack and one interception.
Coach Keefe is thrilled to have Taufalele return in 2025, telling BayAreaPanthers.com, “We are pumped to have BJ back in the building. He is a versatile and athletic defender who moves extremely well for his size. He possesses good length, fluid hips and a solid change of direction, which supports him being an active tackler in space.”
Given his size, athleticism and football IQ, expect Taufalele to continue shining at San Jose’s SAP Center and beyond.
