Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports
This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on an absolute sack master and a true icon of the game—Jason Taylor. Without a doubt, Taylor was one of the greatest pass rushers in the league’s history. He spent most of his professional career playing for the Miami Dolphins. However, he had brief stints with the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets.
In this article, we’ll bring Taylor’s amazing career under the lights, showcasing why the multi-award-winning football star was anything but ordinary.
Rise to Stardom
Born in Pittsburgh on September 1, 1974, Taylor grew up around the same locality. He started developing as a football player while in high school. Moving to Ohio for college, Taylor played football for the Akron Zips football team of the University of Akron.
He played as a weakside linebacker in his junior year before moving to left defensive end as a senior. Most importantly, he established himself as a dependable and dynamic force on defense.
In the 1997 NFL Draft, the Dolphins selected Taylor in the third round as the 73rd overall pick.
Professional Football Career
It didn’t take long for Taylor to become a starter for the Dolphins. He had quickly shown how good he was, and it was impossible to sideline him. Five sacks and two forced fumbles as a rookie wasn’t a bad start to life in the NFL. He finished fourth in the voting for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In the following seasons, Taylor had become very solid. He was the anchor that held the Dolphins’ defense all together. Sacking, batting away passes, and generally being a defensive beast, he put every opponent’s offense on their toes.
The 2000 season was a stellar year for Taylor. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He was also named to the First-team All-Pro, solidifying his status as one of the league’s elite players.
In 2002, Taylor recorded double figures in sacks for the second time in his professional career. He led the league in sacks with 18.5. Deservedly, he got another Pro Bowl invitation and was a consensus All-Pro that season. He had simply become indispensable and was well on his way to legendary status.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2006)
By 2006, Taylor was not just a known name in the league, he was very much feared. His electrifying presence on the field had established a unique identity for him. For a man his size, Taylor was pretty fast. But his technique and relentless determination to beat offensive linemen was even far more applaudable. His 2006 season was one of the best years of his career, culminating in him winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded a career-high nine forced fumbles and showcased his playmaking ability with two interception touchdowns.
A Nightmare for Quarterbacks
As a king in the sacking department, every quarterback in the league had to be wary of Taylor. Even legends like Tom Brady were not excluded. Taylor was a constant thorn in Brady’s flesh whenever the two faced off.
At the time Taylor retired, he had sacked Brady more times (11.5) than any defensive player in the league. In Brady’s letter of recommendation for Taylor’s Hall of Fame vote, he said:
“Regardless of the situation, Jason came after me with the same reckless abandon on each and every snap, getting to his target often. Sure, he was an explosive, athletic player, but it was his fierce tenacity that made him one of the league’s most dominant defenders for 15 seasons, and the reason why we were on high alert any time number 99 was in his pass rush stance.”
Another quarterback that probably wouldn’t have liked to play against Taylor was Rich Gannon. In a game against the Oakland Raiders in December 2002, Taylor gave Gannon absolutely no breathing space. Taylor was in Gannon’s face on three consecutive plays, sacking the Raiders quarterback twice in a row.
The “Quarterback Hunter” also made life unbearable for Akili Smith in Week 5 of the 2000 season. The game was indeed one of the finest Dolphins’ games for that decade. The Dolphins put up a mostly disappointing first half and were trailing 13-3 close to halftime against the winless Cincinnati Bengals. But with just 8 seconds left, the Bengals had Smith drop back to pass. It was a costly mistake—and of course, trust Taylor to capitalize. He quickly beat the left tackle, sacked Smith, and recovered the fumble. Taylor returned the fumble 34 yards for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 13-10. That moment changed everything. The Dolphins returned for the second half in high spirits and went on to win 31-16.
Four-time Pro Bowler Michael Vick was also one of Taylor’s victims. In the 2011 regular season game between the Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles, Taylor sacked Vick twice. This further cemented Taylor’s reputation as a quarterback’s worst enemy.
Brief Stints With the Redskins and the Jets
In 2008, trade rumors were flying here and there around Taylor’s future. Eventually, the Redskins got him through a trade that saw them give up a second-round round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round pick in 2010.
After returning to the Dolphins in 2009 through a one-year deal, Taylor was on his way out again in 2010. However, after spending just one season with the Jets, he made his way back to Miami.
Taylor decided to hang up his boots after the 2011 season. His impressive career statistics include 139.5 sacks, 788 total tackles, and 46 forced fumbles. He also scored six fumble recovery touchdowns—the highest in NFL history so far.
Career Accolades
Taylor’s influence in the NFL went beyond just his on-field display. He also received honors as a philanthropist, winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2007.
Taylor earned six Pro Bowl selections and was named to the AP First-team All-Pro three times. He also received Second-team All-Pro honors in 2001.
As a rookie, he made it into the PFWA All-Rookie Team of 1997. In 2012, the Dolphins recognized Taylor’s remarkable legacy by inducting him into their Honor Roll.
Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
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