Chester Taylor facts for kids
Taylor takes a handoff from Brad Johnson in 2006
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | September 22, 1979 River Rouge, Michigan, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Chester Lamar Taylor (born September 22, 1979) is a former American football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). People sometimes called him "Che Tay." He started his NFL journey when the Baltimore Ravens picked him in the 2002 draft. Later, he played for the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals. Before turning pro, he played college football at the University of Toledo.
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Chester Taylor's Early Life and College Years
Chester Taylor grew up in River Rouge, Michigan. He was a star athlete at River Rouge High School. He was named an all-state running back four times. He was also a fast sprinter in track.
After high school, Taylor went to the University of Toledo. He became a record-breaking player for the Toledo Rockets football team. He set new school records for rushing yards and touchdowns.
College Football Highlights
In 2001, Taylor led his team to a big win. They beat the Cincinnati Bearcats in the 2001 Motor City Bowl. This was Toledo's first bowl game victory since 1995. Taylor was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that game. He ran for 190 yards, which was a Motor City Bowl record at the time.
For the 2001 season, Taylor was one of the best running backs in the nation. He gained 1,492 rushing yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 242 yards. In 2002, he was named the North Team MVP in the Hula Bowl, an important college all-star game.
Chester Taylor's NFL Career
Chester Taylor began his professional football career in 2002. He was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Draft.
Playing for the Baltimore Ravens
Taylor spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a backup running back to Jamal Lewis. Over time, he got more playing time. He also became very good at catching passes, making him a valuable player on third downs.
Time with the Minnesota Vikings
In 2006, Taylor signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. He quickly made a big impact. On October 22, 2006, he set a Vikings team record. He ran for a 95-yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. This was also an NFL record for the longest run in the third quarter of a game.
That year, Taylor rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his NFL career. He and fellow running back Adrian Peterson formed one of the best running back duos in the NFL.
Joining the Chicago Bears
In 2010, Taylor moved to the Chicago Bears. He signed a four-year contract with them. He shared playing time with running back Matt Forte. His rushing yards were lower than in previous years. He gained 267 yards on 112 carries. The Bears released him in September 2011.
Final Season with the Arizona Cardinals
After leaving the Bears, Taylor was picked up by the Arizona Cardinals. He played one season with them in 2011. He finished his NFL career having rushed for 4,740 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. He also caught 299 passes for 2,324 yards and 6 touchdowns.
See also
- List of Division I FBS rushing touchdown leaders
