Chester Taylor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chester Taylor

Taylor takes a handoff from Brad Johnson in 2006
No. 29
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1979-09-22) September 22, 1979 (age 45) River Rouge, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	River Rouge (MI)
College:	Toledo (1998–2001)
NFL Draft:	2002 / Round: 6 / Pick: 207
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2002–2005) Minnesota Vikings (2006–2009) Chicago Bears (2010) Arizona Cardinals (2011)
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-American (2001) Hula Bowl North MVP (2002) Motor City Bowl MVP (2001)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 1,160 Rushing yards: 4,740 Rushing touchdowns: 26 Receptions: 299 Receiving yards: 2,324 Receiving touchdowns: 6
Player stats at PFR

Chester Lamar Taylor, also known as "Che Tay," is a former American football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Chester was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2002 NFL draft. Later, he played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. He also played college football at the University of Toledo.

Early Life and College Football

Chester Taylor grew up in River Rouge, Michigan. He was a star athlete at River Rouge High School. He played as a running back and was also a fast sprinter. He earned "all-state" honors four times.

After high school, Chester went to the University of Toledo. While playing for the Toledo Rockets, he set new school records. He had the most rushing yards and touchdowns in the school's history.

College Achievements

In 2001, Chester led his team to a big win. They beat the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Motor City Bowl. This was Toledo's first bowl game victory since 1995. Chester was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that game. He carried the ball 31 times for 190 yards, which were both Motor City Bowl records at the time. He also scored a touchdown.

For the 2001 season, Chester was one of the best players in the nation. He gained 1,492 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. In 2002, he was named the North Team MVP in the Hula Bowl, an important college all-star game.

College Statistics Overview

Chester's college career was very successful. Here's a quick look at his rushing stats:

Professional Football Career

Chester Taylor began his professional career in 2002. He was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Draft.

Playing for the Baltimore Ravens

Chester played for the Ravens for four years. He was a backup player to Jamal Lewis. Over time, he got more chances to play. He also became very good at catching passes, making him a valuable player on third downs.

Taylor (29) lines up with the Vikings in January, 2009.

Time with the Minnesota Vikings

In 2006, Chester signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. On October 22, 2006, he made history for the Vikings. He had a 95-yard touchdown run against the Seattle Seahawks. This was the longest run from scrimmage in Vikings history. It was also an NFL record for the longest run in the third quarter of a game.

That year, Chester also rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his NFL career. He and Adrian Peterson formed a strong running back duo for the Vikings.

Joining the Chicago Bears

Chester signed with the Chicago Bears in 2010. He shared playing time with another running back, Matt Forte. His rushing yards were lower than in previous years. He rushed for 267 yards on 112 carries. The Bears released him in September 2011.

Final Season with the Arizona Cardinals

After leaving the Bears, Chester was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals. He played one season with them in 2011 before ending his professional career.

NFL Career Statistics Overview

Chester Taylor played in the NFL for ten seasons. He had a successful career as a running back. He rushed for 4,740 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. He also caught 299 passes for 2,324 yards and 6 touchdowns.