Jason Taylor facts for kids
Taylor with the Dolphins in 2009
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| No. 99, 55 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end, outside linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | September 1, 1974 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 244 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
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| College: | Akron | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73 | ||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Jason Paul Taylor (born September 1, 1974) is a famous former American football player. He played as a defensive end and linebacker in the NFL. Jason played for the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets. He was chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. This means he was the 73rd player picked overall that year.
Jason Taylor was not just a football star. He also showed off his moves on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. He finished as the runner-up in the sixth season. On December 28, 2011, Jason announced that he would retire from football after the 2011 season.
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Early Life and College Football
Jason Taylor grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went to Woodland Hills High School. There, he started to show his amazing talent in football.
After high school, Jason played college football for the University of Akron. He was a standout player for the Akron Zips. His skills on the field helped him get noticed by professional scouts. He was named First-team All-MAC twice, in 1995 and 1996.
Playing in the NFL
Jason Taylor played most of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. He was known for being a very strong defensive player. A defensive end's job is to rush the quarterback and stop running plays. A linebacker helps stop both running and passing plays.
Miami Dolphins Star
Jason Taylor was a key player for the Dolphins for many years. He played for them from 1997 to 2007. He returned to the Dolphins for the 2009 and 2011 seasons. He became one of the best defensive players in the league.
He was very good at sacking the quarterback. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He led the entire NFL in sacks in 2002.
Other Teams and Retirement
In 2008, Jason played one season for the Washington Redskins. Then, in 2010, he played for the New York Jets. He returned to the Dolphins for his final season in 2011.
After a long and successful career, Jason Taylor retired from football. He ended his career with impressive stats. He had 775 tackles, 139.5 sacks, and 8 interceptions. He also forced 47 fumbles and recovered 29 fumbles. He even scored 9 touchdowns!
Awards and Achievements
Jason Taylor earned many awards during his time in the NFL. These awards show how great of a player he was.
- Pro Bowl: He was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL.
- All-Pro: He was named First-team All-Pro three times. This means he was considered one of the very best players at his position in the entire league.
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year: In 2006, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. This is a huge honor for a defensive player.
- AFC Defensive Player of the Year: He won this award twice, in 2002 and 2006. This means he was the best defensive player in the American Football Conference.
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team: He was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. This means he was one of the best players of the entire decade!
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: In 2007, Jason won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. This award is given to a player who shows great work on the field and in their community. It shows he was a good person off the field too.
- Miami Dolphins Honor Roll: His name is on the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll. This is a special recognition for legendary Dolphins players.
Life After Football
After retiring from the NFL, Jason Taylor stayed in the public eye. His appearance on Dancing with the Stars was a big hit. He showed that he could be successful outside of football too. He continues to be involved in charity work and community efforts.
