The Washington Redskins have finally decided to honor Sean Taylor on the 25th anniversary of his death. This is a huge victory for the NFL community and the Washington Redskins franchise, who has been fighting for this cause for years.
The Washington Football Team is finally honoring Sean Taylor the way it should have a long time ago. Read more in detail here: washington nfl team.
Sean Taylor was one of the best defensive backs in the history of the game. His skills were out of this world, and his highlights encapsulated NFL football in the mid-2000s.
Despite only playing four seasons for Washington, Taylor was a two-time Pro Bowler. He was drafted No. 5 overall in the 2004 NFL Draft and immediately established himself as one of the league’s best players, with four interceptions in his first season (in 13 starts) and swiftly establishing himself as one of the league’s hardest-hitting defenders.
On Nov. 27, 2007, tragedy struck when Taylor was shot and murdered at his home in Florida during a heist. Taylor was just 24 years old when he died.
A year after his death, Washington honored him into its Ring of Fame. Now, 14 years after his death, Washington has declared that Taylor’s number will be retired permanently.
Sean Taylor was on his way to being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Taylor was selected during a pivotal moment in Washington football’s history. Legendary coach Joe Gibbs was back with the club, and the franchise made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 in their joint inaugural season. Taylor was not just a highlight generator for his club, but he was also a monster in terms of pure football statistics.
Taylor had eight additional interceptions before his tragic death, in addition to the four he had in his rookie season. In fact, there’s a case to be made that Taylor was on his way to becoming a legend in the NFL when he was murdered. In four seasons, he recorded eight forced fumbles and 305 tackles. The fact that 243 of the 305 tackles were single is particularly remarkable.
Taylor died before the start of Week 13 of the 2007 season. He’d already racked up five interceptions, a forced fumble, and 41 tackles at that time.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 19: Washington’s Sean Taylor #21 watches the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Matt Stroshane/Getty Images
To suggest Taylor’s number should be retired in Washington is an understatement. His statistics are self-evident. In four years, he had a greater career than most safeties had in a 12-year NFL career.
His highlights are also self-evident. Few players could hit with Taylor’s intensity, and he undoubtedly had a football sense.
Taylor’s greatest gift to Washington, though, may have been the star power he brought to the organization.
Washington has not been recognized for great football in recent NFL memory, despite being dominating in the 1980s during Gibbs’ first tenure. There has also been a lot of controversy around the franchise. The Washington Football Team’s name change may be the greatest moment the organization has had since Taylor, and it occurred off the field.
Since Taylor’s death, the club has had a number of famous players, but none have come close to matching his star power.
Post-Eagles Donovan McNabb didn’t have much of an impact, while Robert Griffin III was a huge star who had his career cut short due to injury. Kirk Cousins has never been a huge name in the NFL, despite being a good quarterback, while Dwayne Haskins was a great name in college but a total failure.
Nobody has ever done a better job of representing Washington than Taylor.
In NFL circles, the timing of this statement is being questioned.
To be honest, Washington should have retired Taylor’s number years ago. However, it isn’t the reason why some people are upset about the news being released.
Jon Gruden, the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, just resigned after an email incident in which he used racist, homophobic, and sexist slurs over a period of years while working for Monday Night Football. His emails were discovered during a workplace misconduct investigation against the Washington Redskins by the NFL. Some of Gruden’s emails were addressed to Bruce Allen, the former president of the Washington Redskins.
The accusation leveled by Washington is that the team is attempting to deflect attention away from the issue by retiring Taylor’s jersey. According to NFL.com, the club, however, rejects the accusation.
“We have been preparing this weekend’s homage to Sean Taylor in collaboration with Sean Taylor’s family and as part of our Alumni weekend events since before the start of the season,” the team stated. “As part of our Alumni Homecoming Weekend events, we are looking forward to the chance to rededicate Sean Taylor Road with Sean Taylor’s friends, family, and team alumni, and we are also thrilled to formally retire Sean Taylor’s jersey during the game with our fans and alumni present.” We regret to those who expected greater notice, and we will continue to update followers on how we will honor Sean Taylor’s legacy in the coming months.”
Whether the move was intended as a diversion or not, it was a step that Washington should have taken years ago.
Taylor was and continues to be a legend. With his number hanging in the rafters, his legacy will only increase.
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
Terry McLaurin of Washington has caught passes from a different starting quarterback every three games of his career: ‘It’s Human Nature to Get Frustrated,’ says the author.
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