Jason Taylor (American football player)
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| Jason Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 1, 1974 (age 32) |
| Place of birth |  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Position(s) | Defensive end |
| College | Akron |
| NFL Draft | 1997 / Round 3/ Pick 73 |
| Career Highlights | |
| Pro Bowls | 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Awards | 2006 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1997–Present | Miami Dolphins |
Jason Paul Taylor (born September 1, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American football player who currently plays defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He attended the University of Akron. Taylor has a total of 106 sacks (as of December 19, 2006), placing him third amongst currently active players, and is credited with 36 forced fumbles for his career. He has been selected to five Pro Bowls.
He is married to the sister of fellow Dolphins defensive player Zach Thomas Katina.
Taylor was featured in a pictorial, "Ten Sexiest Athletes", in 2001 by Sports Illustrated.
Contents |
[edit] 100th Sack
On November 5, 2006, Taylor got his 100th sack against Rex Grossman of the Chicago Bears. He is the 22nd player in NFL history to get to 100 sacks since they became a stat in 1982.
[edit] High school career
Despite being home-schooled from 10th to 12th grade, Jason Taylor participated in athletics at Woodland Hills High School in Churchill, Pennsylvania, where he was a two-sport star in both football and basketball. Jason Taylor also appeared in a skit in the 2006 film Jackass Number Two. As a senior, in football, he won Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League honors by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Gateway Newspapers at both tight end and free safety.
[edit] 2006 Season
In 2006, Taylor enjoyed perhaps his finest season yet; he had 13½ sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and two interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns. Taylor now has seven defensive scores in his career, which ties a league record. Taylor, along with San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, were the leading candidates for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. During a conference call before the Dolphins season finale against the Indianapolis Colts, an outspoken Taylor commented against Merriman's candidacy for the award, noting that Merriman was suspended for four games during the season for testing positive for a banned substance. Taylor suggested that Merriman winning the award would send the wrong message to those who look up to NFL players.[1]
After the final game of the 2006 season, Taylor announced that he was comtemplating retirement; he has since anounced he will return for the 2007 season.
On January 5, 2007, Taylor was awarded with the NFL AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. Taylor, who received 22 votes from a panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL, beat Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, who received 16 votes. San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman received six votes, and last year's winner, Brian Urlacher of Chicago received four votes.
Also, when Taylor won the Defensive Player of the Year, Shawne Merriman, sent Jason Taylor a congratultory package, it contained a 'Lights Out' t-shirt autographed by Merriman himself.
Taylor was also awarded with an AP All-Pro team selection.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Jason Taylor at NFL players
- Profile on NFL.com
| Preceded by Brian Urlacher |
NFL Defensive Player of the Year 2006 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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