Ike Taylor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ike Taylor

Taylor with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009
No. 24
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1980-05-05) May 5, 1980 (age 45) Gretna, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Marion Abramson (New Orleans, Louisiana)
College:	Louisiana–Lafayette (2001–2002)
NFL Draft:	2003 / Round: 4 / Pick: 125
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2003–2014)
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 636 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 5 Pass deflections: 134 Interceptions: 14 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Ivan "Ike" Taylor (born May 5, 1980) is a former professional football player. He was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the 2003 NFL draft. He played his entire 12-year career with the Steelers. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After retiring from playing, he worked as an analyst for NFL Now and other shows on the NFL Network.

Early Life and High School Football

Ike Taylor was born in Gretna, Louisiana. This town is right across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. When he was a child, he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, with his mother. Later, as a seventh-grader, he moved back to Louisiana. He lived with his aunt and uncle in Harvey, Louisiana.

Ike went to Marion Abramson Senior High School in New Orleans. There, he played both football and basketball. In high school football, he played many different positions. These included running back, defensive end, cornerback, and placekicker.

College Football Career

Taylor went to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He studied psychology there. For his first two years, he could not play football because of his grades. In 2001, he joined the football team as a walk-on. This means he joined without a scholarship at first. He earned a scholarship before the season began. In his first year, he played tailback and on special teams. He also returned kicks.

Before his final year, Taylor asked to switch to cornerback. He started the season as the right cornerback. He made 46 tackles and broke up eight passes. He also forced two fumbles. In four games, no opponent caught a pass against him. One of his college teammates was Charles Tillman, who later played for the Chicago Bears.

Professional Football Journey

Starting in the NFL (2003)

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Ike Taylor in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 125th player picked overall. Even though he was new to playing cornerback, the Steelers saw his potential. They liked his mix of size and speed. Some people doubted the pick at the time.

In May 2003, the Steelers signed Taylor to a three-year contract. He competed to be the fourth cornerback on the team. Head coach Bill Cowher named him the fourth cornerback. He also returned kicks for the special teams.

Taylor played his first NFL game in September 2003. He made two tackles in a win against the Baltimore Ravens. In November 2003, he got his first start as a nickelback. He stayed in that role for the rest of the season. He finished his first year with 32 tackles and three pass deflections. He also returned 37 kicks for 831 yards.

Growing as a Player (2004)

In 2004, Taylor continued to work as a backup cornerback. In Week 4, he made his first career interception against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers won that game. The next week, he intercepted a pass from Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. The Steelers won again.

The Steelers had a great season, finishing with a 15–1 record. Taylor played in his first playoff game in January 2005. The Steelers beat the New York Jets. However, they lost to the New England Patriots the next week.

Becoming a Starter and Super Bowl Champion (2005)

In 2005, Ike Taylor became a starting cornerback for the Steelers. He started the season alongside Deshea Townsend. In Week 3, he had a career-high 15 tackles against the New England Patriots. In October, he intercepted a pass against the Baltimore Ravens. He finished the 2005 season with 91 tackles and 23 pass deflections.

The Steelers made it to the playoffs. They won against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. In the AFC Championship Game, they beat the Denver Broncos. On February 5, 2006, Taylor started in Super Bowl XL. He had seven tackles and two pass deflections. He also intercepted a pass in the red zone. The Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21–10, and Ike Taylor became a Super Bowl champion!

Continuing Success (2006–2008)

In September 2006, Taylor signed a new four-year contract with the Steelers. He remained a starting cornerback. In Week 3, he made an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals. Later in the season, he was briefly moved to a backup role. He finished 2006 with 69 tackles and two interceptions.

In 2007, under new head coach Mike Tomlin, Taylor was again a starting cornerback. In the first game, he made his first career sack and an interception. In Week 5, he had another interception and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week. In Week 16, he intercepted a pass and returned it 51 yards for his first career touchdown! He finished 2007 with 80 tackles, three interceptions, and a touchdown. The Steelers made the playoffs, but lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In 2008, Taylor continued as a starting cornerback. He often covered the opponent's best wide receiver. In Week 8, he held Plaxico Burress to only 15 yards. In Week 14, he made an interception against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the season with 65 tackles and one interception.

The Steelers had a great 2008 season, finishing 12–4. They won their playoff games against the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. On February 1, 2009, Taylor started in Super Bowl XLIII. He made eight tackles as the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27–23. This was Ike Taylor's second Super Bowl championship!

Later Career Years (2009–2014)

In 2009, Taylor remained a starting cornerback. He had 62 tackles and one interception. In 2010, he became the team's top cornerback. He had 66 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. The Steelers reached Super Bowl XLV, but lost to the Green Bay Packers.

In 2011, Taylor signed a new four-year contract. He continued to be a starting cornerback. He finished the season with 44 tackles and two interceptions. The Steelers made the playoffs. In the AFC Wildcard game, they lost to the Denver Broncos in overtime.

In 2012, Taylor was still the top starting cornerback. He made an interception against the New York Giants. He injured his fibula in Week 12, which ended his long streak of playing in 136 straight games. He played in 12 games that season.

In 2013, Taylor played in all 16 games as a starting cornerback. He had 63 tackles and 12 pass deflections. In 2014, he broke his right forearm in Week 3. This injury kept him out for eight games. He also had a shoulder injury later in the season. He played in only five games that year.

On April 14, 2015, Ike Taylor announced his retirement from professional football.

NFL Career Statistics

Life After Football

After retiring from playing, Ike Taylor joined NFL Network in August 2015. He worked as an analyst, appearing on shows like NFL Now.

Taylor spends his off-season time in his hometown of New Orleans. He trains to stay in shape using a special program in Orlando, Florida. Since 2005, he has hosted the "FaceMeIke Football Camp" every summer. This camp helps young people in New Orleans learn about football. Ike's son, Ivan Taylor, is set to play college football for The University of Alabama.