On Nov. 26, 2007, Washington safety Sean Taylor was shot in the upper leg by an armed intruder in his Florida home, severing his femoral artery. Nearly 24 hours later, Taylor died at age 24.
Sean Taylor died 9 years ago today
On Nov. 27, 2007, Sean Taylor died from a gunshot wound he suffered while protecting his family from a home intruder.
Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images
Nine years later, Taylor’s legacy lives on and he’s still remembered as one of the most talented safeties in NFL history.
After earning unanimous All-American honors at Miami (Fla.) in 2003 and helping lead the Hurricanes to a national championship in 2001, Taylor was selected fifth overall in the 2004 NFL draft. His impact in Washington was immediate, and Taylor earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2006. At the time of his death, he led the NFL in interceptions and was posthumously named to the Pro Bowl again in 2007.
“He just didn’t let up at any time. In the Pro Bowl some guys don’t really play their hardest. They don’t want to get hit,” former Washington safety Dashon Goldson told Sports Illustrated in 2015. “But s---, he was out there playing full-go.”
Washington and one of their defensive lineman tweeted tributes to Taylor on Sunday.
Chris Baker, who joined the team in 2011, added this.
Taylor is now a member of the Ring of Fame in FedEx Field, and while his No. 21 jersey hasn’t officially been retired by the team, no player has worn it since.
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