“He was drafted #36, but died #21. He was drafted as a kid, but died as a man. He played like there was no tomorrow, and now there is no tomorrow. Once a Redskin’, always a Redskin’.”
Four years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Sean Taylor’s younger sister and giving her that quote. We were both 15 at the time, and for a school assignment – I decided to write about Sean. It was an honor being able to express the impact Sean had on my life, being a young athlete – the way he approached the game was second to none. It is hard to believe that five years ago, Taylor’s life was tragically taken.
In 2004, the Washington Redskins took a chance on a troubled, yet talented Miami University defensive back – Sean Taylor. It wasn’t the pick most thought Washington would go with, as offense was seemingly the bigger need. The team was actually going to select tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. But there was something about Sean that made coach Joe Gibbs and staff indecisive. Gibbs sought advice from everyone that had a relationship with Sean, and Taylor’s former Miami U teammate – former Redskins’ running back Clinton Portis – gave likely the loudest endorsement. It was a pick that the Washington Redskins would never regret.
“He hits as hard as he covers,” said the legendary former Florida State head coach, Bobby Bowden prior to the ’04 draft. Sean entered the NFL with as much buzz as Ronnie Lott, Ken Easley and Dennis Smith did in the early 1980s.
“He’s very, very athletic – big, strong, and fast,” former Jets’ coach and defensive back Herm Edwards said. In his pre draft evaluations, Herm raved about Sean – “If he works at it he can be one of the better safeties because he has the God-given talent. Coaches can’t coach talent.”
Sean Taylor entered the league, 6 foot 2 inches and 230 lbs, but later shed down to 212 lbs. He had the coverage ability of a corner and he hit like a linebacker, but his offensive background made him a rare commodity. Sean could have played running back in the NFL and been a very, very good one. He was a 1,300-yard rusher at Gulliver Prep and held the Florida touchdown record of 44 touchdowns as a senior. He decided not to play running back at “The U,” however, and here’s Sean’s reasoning as to why he chose to play safety in a pre-draft interview:
“I think it’s more of a challenge,” Taylor said. “Everybody can play offense and get 25 or 30 carries, you’re bound to break one. It’s hard to play defensive back and be consistent and get interceptions and make tackles. You have 10 other guys, including yourself, trying to get to the ball and make plays. It’s more of a challenge. A lot of the pressure is put on defense more than offense. It’s a challenge all-around. I’m a competitor, really.”
Sean was a terror on the field. His passion, intensity, and instincts impacted the Redskins in an unimaginable way. He was such a beast that his teammates nicknamed him “Meast” – half man, half beast.
Taylor never received enough credit on how smart a football player he was. He studied a lot of tape, making his great instincts that much better.
“Instinct is a reason a lot of guys do what they do,” Sean Taylor said prior to being drafted. “Instincts play a big part in the way I play. A lot of times my instincts lead me right to the ball. A lot of times it’s the read I get from the quarterback. It helps me a lot.”
Sean Taylor was indeed an angel in the Redskins’ defensive backfield. No matter the down or distance, you could always guarantee that Sean would be around the football.
It didn’t take long for Sean Taylor to introduce himself to the National Football League. In his first 3 preseason games, Taylor forced 4 turnovers and of course, provided a highlight film of earth shaking hits. That was the story of Sean Taylor’s career. He was the ultimate play maker and he forced opposing offensive players to fear him. There were not many that would cross the middle of the football field, because Sean was always there – waiting to lay a huge hit.
Taylor made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in his tragically shortened three-and-a-half year career. Taylor finished twelfth in tackles, tied for fifth in forced fumbles, third in passes defensed, and tied for fifth in interceptions – among NFL safeties through Taylor’s career (2004-2007).
Sean Taylor had all the makings of what could have been, one of the greatest safeties to ever play professional football. Although his life was tragically taken away at the young age of 24 – Sean will always be remembered for the good man and father he was becoming, as well as, the great passion he displayed on the football field.
