Sean Taylor was a standout American football safety for the Washington Redskins. Drafted fifth overall in 2004, his promising career was tragically cut short in 2007 when he was murdered. His legacy as a hard-hitting defensive player continues to resonate with fans.
April 1, 1983: Birth of Sean Taylor
Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was born on April 1, 1983.
2000: State Championship and Track Success
In 2000, Sean Taylor had a standout season rushing for 1,400 yards and a state-record 44 touchdowns, leading Gulliver Prep to a state title. He also excelled in track and field, winning the state 2A 100-meter dash and ranking among the state's top 400-meter dash sprinters.
2000: Florida Class 2A State Championship Victory
Sean Taylor helped Gulliver Preparatory School win the Florida Class 2A State Championship in 2000.
2001: BCS National Championship Victory
Sean Taylor and the Miami Hurricanes won the BCS National Championship in 2001.
2001: National Championship with Miami Hurricanes
As a true freshman, Sean Taylor contributed to the Miami Hurricanes' national championship win in 2001.
2002: Second-team All-Big East Selection
Sean Taylor was named a second-team All-Big East selection in 2002.
2003: Declaration for the NFL Draft
Sean Taylor declared for the NFL draft after his 2003 season.
July 27, 2004: Signing with the Redskins
The Washington Redskins signed Sean Taylor to a six-year, $18.5 million contract on July 27, 2004.
August 4, 2004: Change of Agents and Rookie Symposium Incident
Sean Taylor fired his agents and later rehired Drew Rosenhaus on August 4, 2004. He also left the NFL's Rookie Symposium early but returned for the final two days.
August 9, 2004: Preseason Debut and Two-Interception Performance
Sean Taylor made his NFL preseason debut, intercepting two passes, including one returned for a touchdown, on August 9, 2004.
October 2004: DUI Arrest
Sean Taylor was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in October 2004 after being pulled over for speeding. He refused a blood alcohol test and was subsequently arrested.
October 18, 2004: First Career Interception and Sack
On October 18, 2004, Sean Taylor recorded his first career interception, returning it for 45 yards, and also got his first career sack in a game against the Chicago Bears.
2004: Record-Breaking Draft from Miami
The Washington Redskins selected Sean Taylor as the first of a record six University of Miami players taken in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
2004: Taylor Wears No. 36 as a Rookie
Sean Taylor wore No. 36 as a rookie in 2004.
2004: NFL Draft Selection
Sean Taylor was selected fifth overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2004 NFL Draft.
March 2005: Acquittal of DUI Charge
In March 2005, Sean Taylor was acquitted of the DUI charge from his October 2004 arrest after a judge ruled that the videotape of his roadside sobriety tests did not demonstrate obvious intoxication. He was also acquitted of refusing to take a blood alcohol test due to a lack of probable cause for the request.
June 2005: Police Investigation
Sean Taylor was sought by police in June 2005 following an incident involving gunfire directed at a stolen vehicle.
November 11, 2005: Uniform Violation Fine
Sean Taylor was fined $5,000 by the NFL for violating the league's uniform code by wearing white socks with a burgundy and gold striped pattern instead of the required all-white socks during the Redskins' home victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 11, 2005.
January 1, 2006: Season-High Tackles
Sean Taylor recorded a season-high nine combined tackles and deflected two passes during a 31-20 win against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 1, 2006.
January 7, 2006: First Playoff Game and Ejection
Sean Taylor started in his first career playoff game and recorded seven combined tackles and returned a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter of the Redskins' 17-10 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 7, 2006. However, he was ejected from the game for allegedly spitting in the face of Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman and hitting him in the face.
April 2006: Plea Deal and Probation
In April 2006, Sean Taylor pled no contest to misdemeanor battery and assault charges stemming from a previous incident. He was placed on 18 months probation and ordered to speak at Miami-Dade County schools about the importance of education and make donations to each school.
October 15, 2006: Season-High Tackles
Sean Taylor recorded a season-high ten combined tackles and deflected a pass during a 25-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans on October 15, 2006.
November 26, 2006: NFC Defensive Player of the Week
Sean Taylor recorded five combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by quarterback Jake Delhomme in the Redskins' 17-13 win against the Carolina Panthers on November 26, 2006. His performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
2006: Named Starting Free Safety
Sean Taylor was named the starting free safety for the 2006 NFL season by head coach Joe Gibbs.
2006: First Pro Bowl Selection
Sean Taylor was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2006.
November 26, 2007: Shooting
Sean Taylor was fatally shot in the leg by an intruder at his home on November 26, 2007.
November 27, 2007: Death of Sean Taylor
Sean Taylor died on November 27, 2007, after being shot at his home.
December 2, 2007: Redskins Play First Game After Taylor's Death
On December 2, 2007, the Washington Redskins played their first game after Sean Taylor's death. The game was against the Buffalo Bills and the Redskins played with only 10 men on defense to honor Taylor. A four-minute video was played in remembrance along with a moment of silence. Fans were given towels with Taylor's number on them.
December 18, 2007: Posthumous Pro Bowl Selection
Sean Taylor was posthumously voted to his second Pro Bowl on December 18, 2007, becoming the first deceased player in NFL history to receive this honor.
2007: First Pro Bowl Selection
Sean Taylor was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2007 as a replacement for Brian Dawkins.
2007: Named Hardest-Hitting Player
Sports Illustrated named Sean Taylor the hardest-hitting player in the NFL prior to the start of the 2007 season.
2007: Tragic Shooting and Death
During the 2007 season, Sean Taylor was tragically shot at his home and died the next day, November 27, 2007.
2007: Jersey Number Change
Before the 2007 NFL season, Sean Taylor switched his jersey number from 36 to 21 after the departure of cornerback Fred Smoot.
2007: Selection to FHSAA's All-Century Team
Sean Taylor was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's All-Century Team in 2007.
April 7, 2008: Trial in Taylor's Murder Postponed
The trial of the men charged with Sean Taylor's murder was scheduled for April 7, 2008, but was postponed until June 2009 at the request of the defense.
May 12, 2008: Suspects in Taylor's Murder Will Not Face Death Penalty
On May 12, 2008, it was announced that the suspects in Sean Taylor's murder would not face the death penalty but could receive life imprisonment.
May 15, 2008: Suspect in Taylor's Murder Accepts Plea Deal
On May 15, 2008, Venjah Hunte, one of the five suspects in Taylor's murder, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
May 2008: Arrests and Charges in Taylor Case
In May 2008, five suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of Sean Taylor. The charges included felony second-degree murder, armed burglary, and home invasion robbery with a firearm.
November 30, 2008: Taylor Inducted into Redskins Ring of Fame
Sean Taylor was posthumously inducted as the 43rd member into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame on November 30, 2008.
2008: Taylor's Teammates Wear His Jersey at Pro Bowl
In 2008, Chris Cooley, Chris Samuels, and Ethan Albright all wore jerseys with No. 21 during the Pro Bowl to honor Sean Taylor. The jerseys were auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Sean Taylor Memorial Trust Fund.
2008: Posthumous Honors
Sean Taylor was posthumously voted to start for the NFC team in the 2008 Pro Bowl and was also named a second-team All-Pro.
2008: Induction into Washington's Ring of Fame
Sean Taylor was posthumously inducted into Washington's Ring of Fame in 2008.
April 1, 2009: Hunte Petitions to Withdraw Guilty Plea
On April 1, 2009, Venjah Hunte petitioned the court to withdraw his guilty plea.
June 9, 2009: Trial Delayed for a Third Time
On June 9, 2009, the trial for the men charged with Sean Taylor's murder was delayed for a third time.
June 2009: Trial Postponed
The trial for the men charged with Sean Taylor's murder, originally scheduled for April 7, 2008, was postponed to June 2009.
September 5, 2009: Sean Taylor Memorial Field Dedication
Gulliver Preparatory School renamed their football field to Sean Taylor Memorial Field on September 5, 2009.
January 18, 2010: Trial Postponed Again
A new trial date for the men accused of killing Sean Taylor was set for January 18, 2010, but was postponed again.
March 14, 2011: Trial Postponed Again
After another delay, the trial of the men accused of killing Sean Taylor was set for March 14, 2011.
January 20, 2012: Judge Sets Trial Date for Eric Rivera Jr.
A judge set a trial date of April 16, 2012, for Eric Rivera Jr., the alleged gunman in the Sean Taylor case.
January 30, 2012: Trial Postponed Yet Again
The trial in the Sean Taylor case was delayed again with a new start date of January 30, 2012.
April 2, 2013: Trial Postponed Again
On April 2, 2013, the trial for the man accused of killing Sean Taylor was again postponed to August 12 of that year.
April 5, 2013: Trial Postponed Due to Scheduling Conflict
On July 12, the judge in the Sean Taylor murder trial postponed the trial to November 5. However, that date was pushed back even further to April 5, 2013, due to a scheduling conflict with the chief prosecutor.
January 23, 2014: Rivera Sentenced in Taylor's Murder
On January 23, 2014, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy sentenced Eric Rivera Jr. to 57 1/2 years in prison for the murder of Sean Taylor.
2014: Ryan Clark Wears No. 21 to Honor Taylor
When Ryan Clark returned to the Washington Redskins in 2014 after eight years with the Steelers, he wore No. 21 to honor Sean Taylor.
April 1, 2015: Fourth Person Sentenced in Taylor's Death
On April 1, 2015, Charles Wardlow, the fourth person charged with the death of Sean Taylor, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
2016: Su'a Cravens Wears No. 36 to Honor Taylor
Su'a Cravens, a second-round pick by the Redskins in 2016, chose to wear No. 36 to honor Sean Taylor.
2017: D.J. Swearinger Wears No. 36 to Honor Taylor
D.J. Swearinger requested to wear No. 36 when he joined the Redskins to honor Sean Taylor. Swearinger wore this number for the four teams he played on throughout his professional career as a way to pay tribute to Taylor.
April 4, 2018: Landon Collins to Wear No. 21 to Honor Taylor
On April 4, 2018, the New York Giants announced that safety Landon Collins would switch from No. 27 to No. 21 to honor Sean Taylor.
September 2020: Road Renamed in Taylor's Memory
In September 2020, one of the roads leading to Commanders Field was renamed Sean Taylor Road in memory of the late safety.
October 2021: Redskins Retire Taylor's Number
In October 2021, The Washington Redskins retired Sean Taylor's number 21, making him only the third player in the team's history to receive this honor. A road leading to the stadium was also named after him.
October 17, 2021: Washington Franchise Retires Taylor's Number
On October 17, 2021, the Washington franchise retired Sean Taylor's number 21 before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs with his family in attendance.
November 27, 2022: Commanders Unveil Display Honoring Taylor
On November 27, 2022, the Washington Commanders unveiled a statue-like display to honor Sean Taylor at FedExField. The unveiling was followed by criticism of the design and the lack of a physical statue.