Sean Taylor

At 24 years old, Sean Taylor has this physical status:

Sean Michael Maurice Taylor (March 1, 1983 – November 27, 2007) was an American football free safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

He was drafted by the Redskins with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, where he played for four seasons before retiring in 2007. Taylor led Gulliver Prep to a Florida state championship and a state record of 44 touchdowns in a season as a student.

He later played college football for the University of Miami, where he was a member of the Hurricanes' 2001 BCS National Championship team and received unanimous All-American honors. Taylor's success in college culminated in him being selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Redskins, where he gained a reputation as a hard-hitting player.

Multiple of his Redskins teammates nicked him "Meast," meaning "half man, half beast." In 2006, he made one Pro Bowl appearance. During the 2007 NFL season, Taylor was shot by intruders at his Miami area home on November 26 and died the next day on November 27.

His death brought about a national outpouring of love and compassion, particularly in Washington, D.C., where Taylor had been a fan favorite as a Redskin and the Miami area, where he had excelled in high school and college.

He received his second Pro Bowl selection and First Team All-Pro recognition, thanks to his posthumously.

Early life

Sean Taylor was born in Florida on April 1, 1983 to Pedro Taylor, a policeman, and Donna Junor. He spent his youth growing up in Homestead, Florida, with his great-grandmother Aulga Clarke, and later moved to his father's house at the age of 11. By Pastor David Peay, Taylor was baptized at Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida City. He grew up in a low-income Miami neighborhood on a street lined with candy-colored houses.

Taylor played high school football in Pinecrest, a suburb of Miami. He began his high school football at Miami Killian High School, a public school in Florida, but he later transferred to Gulliver Preparatory School, a private school, where he played football, track, and basketball. He played both offense and defense. Despite missing the first game of the season (the team's only loss), Gulliver defeated the Florida Class 2A State Championship in 2000 with a 14–1 record. During the season, Taylor was a favorite on both directions of the football team, playing running back, defensive back, and linebacker. During Gulliver's state playoff run, he rushed for 1,400 yards and a state record 44 touchdowns, and he rushed for more than 200 yards on two occasions. In the state championship game over Marianna High School, he also made more than 100 tackles during the season and three touchdowns (two receiving and one rushing). Taylor won the state 2A 100-meter dash in 2000 and was also one of the state's top 400-meter dash sprinters in track & field.

Taylor was dubbed the No. 1 in the United States. The Miami Herald is a newspaper that publishes articles about a single prospect in Miami-Dade County. He was also rated as the country's No. 1 in the nation's No. 1 position. By Super Prep, there is one skill athlete and an All-American. Taylor was also a No. 1 pick for the Orlando Sentinel Super Southern Team. The No. 1 celebrity on the Florida Times-Union Super 75 list and rated the No. 1 on the list of the Top 75 Celebrities is Michael Burrell. The Gainesville Sun's 1 player in Florida.

He was also selected to the All-Century Team, the state's top 33 players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state. Taylor was honoured at Gulliver by a plaque that was in the school's cafeteria after his death. On September 5, 2009, the football field at Gulliver Prep was renamed Sean Taylor Memorial Field.

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College career

Taylor was recruited to play for coach Larry Coker's Miami Hurricanes football team at the University of Miami. He was also a member of the Hurricanes' track & field team, competing in 100-meter and 200-meter events.

Taylor carved a niche for himself in Miami's secondary in nickel and dime defense schemes as a rookie (one of four true rookies to play for the team). Taylor was named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against the Pittsburgh Panthers this week. In 2001, the Hurricanes captured the national championship.

Taylor made his All-Big East pick by the league's head coaches in 2002, his first season as a starter. With 85 (53 solo), he came up 15 touchdowns, intercepted 4 passes, forced one fumble, blocked one kick, and gave up a touchdown. In the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State, he led all Miami defensive backs in tackles, interceptions, and passes broken up. He made a crucial play during the game in which he intercepted Buckeyes quarterback Craig Krenzel in the endzone and returned the ball out of the endzone. Maurice Clarett, the Buckeyes' running back, chased Taylor down and took the ball away from him in the process. Clarett recovered the ball for Ohio State, allowing them to kick a field goal and finish the game 17–7 at the time.

During his final year at Miami, Taylor had a fruitful year that culminated in a slew of honors and accolades. He was named a unanimous first-team All-American, the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the country's best defensive back. With ten interceptions, he led the Big East Conference and came in first nationally in interceptions, tying for the first interceptions in a season with former Hurricanes standout Bennie Blades. Taylor also ranked first in total tackles with 77 (57 solo). In Miami's stunning 28–14 victory over Pittsburgh, he intercepted two passes, playing a key role in the Hurricanes' limiting All-American receiver Larry Fitzgerald to only three receptions for 26 yards. He intercepted interceptions for an average of 18.4 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown return to Boston College, a 50-yard scoring runback at Florida State, and a 44-yard fieldback against Rutgers University. His three interceptions interceptions in Miami is a single-season record.

Taylor has also competed in track & field as a senior for the Hurricanes. He came in fourth place in the 100-meter at the Gatorade Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida, in 10.77 seconds, behind teammates Terrell Walden, Roscoe Parrish, and Travarous Bain. In the 100-meter dash and 21.60 seconds, his best efforts for the season came at the Big East Outdoor T&F Championships in Storrs, Connecticut, where he set personal records of 10.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.60 seconds. He also competed in the 4x100 relay as a participant.

Professional career

Taylor announced that he was entering the NFL draft following his 2003 season. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, but he decided against all of the combine drills and only met with team representatives and employees.

In the first round (fifth overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected Taylor. He was the first of a record six players chosen in the University of Miami's first round; the other five players were Kellen Winslow II, Jonathan Vilma, D. J. Williams, Vernon Carey, and Vince Wilfork.

The Washington Redskins announced Taylor on July 27, 2004, that he had a six-year, $18.5 million contract that included a $13.4 million signing bonus and may have earned him $40 million in incentives and awards. He also had a seventh-year deal. Taylor was the first top ten pick to sign his contract in 2004.

Taylor sacked Eugene Mato and Jeff Moorad after he became dissatisfied with his service on August 4, 2004. He fired them after other top ten picks agreed to their contracts and felt their terms were better in comparison. This was his second time firing agents within five months after the NFL draft was fired two days after. Rosenhaus was immediately recalled, who was then his agent for the remainder of his career. Taylor was also involved in a situation that occurred early in the NFL's Rookie Symposium, which was mandatory for every new drafter and was held over four days. He left after the first day but returned for the Redskins' second days after being asked for two days. Taylor was also suspended at least seven times for late hits, uniform mischief, and other infractions over his first three seasons.

Taylor was preparing for the job as the start of free safety against Andre Lott. Taylor made his professional debut in the Redskins' preseason-opener against the Denver Broncos on August 9, 2004. In the second half, he intercepted two interceptions off of rookie quarterback Matt Mauck's passes. Taylor intercepted a pass intended for Jeb Putzier and returned it for a three-yard touchdown to put Washington in the lead 10–9. After Taylor failed to outrank him on the depth chart, head coach Joe Gibbs named Taylor the backup free safety to begin the regular season.

In the Washington Redskins' season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he made his professional debut in the Washington Redskins' season-opener and assisted on one tackle. Taylor got off to a good start in Week 3 after surpassing Lott on the depth chart and leading four total tackles and deflected two passes. During a 13–10 victory at the Chicago Bears on October 18, 2004, Taylor made four solo tackles, a pass deflection, and his first career interception for 45 yards. During the game, he made his first interception and sack, the first two on quarterback Brian Griese. In a 16–7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12, he recorded a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo) and broke up a pass. He finished his rookie season in 2004 with 76 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two forced fumbles, and a suspension in 15 games and 13 starts.

Taylor changed his jersey number from No. 1 to No. 4 before the season began. 36 to No. The Minnesota Vikings cut cornerback Fred Smoot to the cornerbacks on Monday, putting the number 21 after it had been available. When Smoot returned to the Redskins in 2007, Taylor kept the number, with Smoot opting to wear No. 27. Gregg Williams, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, and strong safety Ryan Clark selected Taylor as the starting free safety for the regular season.

In their 9–7 victory, he started the Washington Redskins' season-opener against the Chicago Bears, where he had four solo tackles and broke up a pass. During the Redskins' 17–10 home win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, it was revealed that Taylor and teammate Clinton Portis received fines from the NFL for breaching the league's uniform code. Taylor's fine was $25 for wearing white socks with a burgundy and gold stripe pattern instead of the required all white socks. Due to a knee injury, he was out for the Redskins' Week ten loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During a 31–20 victory at the Philadelphia Eagles on January 1, 2006, he had a season-high nine combined tackles and deflected two passes. Taylor finished the 2005 season with 70 combined tackles (60 solo), a career-high ten pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a sack in 15 games and 15 starts.

The Washington Redskins finished second in the NFC East with a 10–6 record and were ranked second in the NFC East, earning a wildcard berth. Taylor started in his first playoff game and made seven combined tackles, as well as a 51-yard touchdown in the first quarter of their 17-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 7, 2006. Referee Mike Carey dismissed Taylor in the third quarter after he spit in Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman's face. Taylor denied the allegations, according to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who believed and stood by his player. During his rookie season, he reportedly spat in the face of wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh, but was not concerned because the NFL was unable to locate clear video evidence. Taylor was fined $17,000 by the NFL two days later for the incident. After losing 20-10 to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, the Redskins were suspended the following game. Taylor had seven combined tackles and a pass deflection.

Taylor was the starting free safety for the 2006 season, according to head coach Joe Gibbs, as well as starting strong safety Adam Archuleta.

During a 25-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans on October 15, 2006, Taylor collected a season-high ten combined tackles (eight solo) and deflected a pass. Taylor made eight combined tackles and returned a blocked 35-yard field goal attempt by Mike Vanderjagt for a 30-yard gain with less than six seconds remaining in the game. Kyle Kosier's facemask placed the Redskins in field goal range with an untimed down. Vanderjagt's game-winning field goal was blocked by Troy Vincent, allowing Redskins kicker Nick Novak to kick a 47-yard field goal to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 22-19. In the Redskins' 17-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on November 26, 2006, Taylor had five combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Jake Delhomme. In the fourth quarter, he made a crucial fourth down tackle on Jake Delhomme, and his interception gave the Redskins a big win. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. He played in 111 combined tackles (86 solo), six pass deflections, three tackles forced fumbles, and three intercepted interceptions, as well as an interception in 16 games and 16 starts in 2006, finishing his career with a career-high 111 combined tackles (86 solo). During the season, Washington Redskins assistant coach Gregg Williams often referred to Taylor as the best player he had ever coached.

Taylor's influence on the field was evident even when he was named as the first alternate to the NFC's 2007 Pro Bowl team, even though he was playing on a struggling Redskins defensive unit. Taylor was named to the vacant spot in the NFC's first choice for safety, Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles, who did not participate in the Pro Bowl due to an injury. It was his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. Much fan and media discussion followed Taylor's humiliating hit on Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman in the Pro Bowl.

Sports Illustrated named Taylor as the NFL's hardest-hitting player before the 2007 season.

In a rare interview before the season, he was quoted as saying, "You play a kid's game for a king's ransom." And if you don't take it seriously enough, one day you may well say, 'I should have done this, I should have done this,'" says the author. Taylor seemed to be on a personal turn around this season, as coworkers said that he had finally sorted out because of his daughter.

The Redskins decided to use Taylor in a more familiar free safety role with less responsibility prior to the season.

Taylor was tied for the most interceptions in the National Football Conference and second in the league with five, despite missing Weeks 11 and 12 due to a knee injury. Taylor also had 42 tackles, 9 passes blocked, and a forced fumble.

Taylor was elected to his second Pro Bowl on December 18, 2007, becoming the first deceased player in NFL history to be elected to the Pro Bowl. Chris Samuels, Chris Cooley, and Ethan Albright, three Redskins players who had been chosen, wore #21 to honor Taylor during Pro Bowl #21. On the first play of the season, the NFC lined up with just one safety, as the Redskins had done earlier in the season.

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