History of Sean Taylor in Timeline
Sean Taylor was an American professional football safety who played for the Washington Redskins in the NFL. Drafted fifth overall in 2004, he played four seasons before his tragic death in 2007. He was a highly regarded player known for his athleticism and hard-hitting style of play, quickly becoming a key player for the Redskins.
April 1, 1983: Sean Taylor's Birth
On April 1, 1983, Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was born. He would later become a professional football safety.
2000: Star Performance in 2000 Season
During the 2000 season, Sean Taylor excelled as a running back, safety, and linebacker, rushing for 1,400 yards, scoring a state-record 44 touchdowns, compiling over 100 tackles, and scoring three touchdowns in the state title game.
2000: Florida Class 2A State Championship
In 2000, Sean Taylor helped Gulliver Preparatory School win the Florida Class 2A State Championship with a 14-1 record.
2001: Big East Special Teams Player of the Week
As a freshman on the 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team, Sean Taylor was named Big East Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
2001: Miami Hurricanes National Championship
In 2001, Sean Taylor was a member of the Miami Hurricanes team that won the BCS National Championship.
2002: All-Big East Selection
In 2002, Sean Taylor was a second-team All-Big East selection and led Miami defensive backs in tackles, interceptions and passes broken up.
2003: Announcement of NFL Draft Entry
Following the 2003 season, Sean Taylor announced he was entering the NFL draft and attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
July 27, 2004: Signed with the Washington Redskins
On July 27, 2004, Sean Taylor signed a six-year, $18.5 million contract with the Washington Redskins, including a $13.4 million signing bonus.
August 4, 2004: Fired Agents
On August 4, 2004, Sean Taylor fired his agents, Eugene Mato and Jeff Moorad, due to dissatisfaction with his contract, and rehired Drew Rosenhaus.
August 9, 2004: NFL Preseason Debut
On August 9, 2004, Sean Taylor made his professional NFL debut in the Redskins' preseason game against the Denver Broncos, recording two interceptions and a touchdown.
October 2004: Arrested for DUI
In October 2004, Sean Taylor was arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia, for driving under the influence of alcohol after being pulled over for speeding.
October 18, 2004: First Career Interception and Sack
On October 18, 2004, Sean Taylor recorded his first career interception and sack during a game against the Chicago Bears. He made four solo tackles, a pass deflection, and returned his first career interception for 45-yards during a 13–10 win at the Chicago Bears.
2004: Drafted by the Washington Redskins
In 2004, Sean Taylor was drafted fifth overall in the NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He played for them for four seasons.
2004: Wore Number 36 as a rookie
In 2004, as a rookie, Sean Taylor wore No. 36 before switching to No. 21 for the remainder of his career.
March 2005: Acquittal and Conviction in DWI Case
In March 2005, Sean Taylor was acquitted of a DWI charge by a Fairfax County judge who viewed a videotape of the sobriety tests and found them inconclusive. However, in March 2005, Taylor was convicted for refusing to take a blood alcohol test, but this conviction was later overturned on appeal due to a lack of probable cause.
June 2005: Police Seek Taylor in Shooting Incident
In June 2005, police sought Sean Taylor following a shooting incident involving a stolen vehicle.
November 11, 2005: NFL Fine for Uniform Violation
On November 11, 2005, Sean Taylor was fined $5,000 by the NFL for violating the league's uniform code by wearing non-regulation socks during a game.
January 1, 2006: Season-High Tackles Against Eagles
On January 1, 2006, Sean Taylor recorded a season-high nine combined tackles and deflected two passes during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
January 7, 2006: Playoff Ejection
On January 7, 2006, Sean Taylor was ejected from his first career playoff game after allegedly spitting in the face of Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman and hitting him in the face.
April 2006: No Contest Plea to Misdemeanor Charges
In April 2006, Sean Taylor pled no contest to misdemeanor battery and assault charges. He was placed on 18 months probation and ordered to support ten Miami-Dade County schools by speaking about the importance of education and donating $1,000 to each school.
October 15, 2006: Season-High Tackles Against Titans
On October 15, 2006, Sean Taylor collected a season-high ten combined tackles against the Tennessee Titans.
November 26, 2006: NFC Defensive Player of the Week
On November 26, 2006, Sean Taylor was voted NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Carolina Panthers, during which he recorded five combined tackles, two pass deflections, and an interception.
2006: Starting Free Safety
In 2006, Joe Gibbs named Sean Taylor as the starting free safety.
2006: Pro Bowl Appearance
In 2006, Sean Taylor made his first Pro Bowl appearance.
November 26, 2007: Taylor Shot by Home Intruder
On November 26, 2007, Sean Taylor was shot in the leg by a home intruder while investigating noises at his house. His femoral artery was severed, leading to extensive blood loss. His fiancée and daughter were unharmed.
November 27, 2007: Sean Taylor's Death
On November 27, 2007, Sean Taylor died after being shot by intruders at his Miami area home. He was a safety for the Washington Redskins.
December 2, 2007: Redskins Game Following Taylor's Death
On December 2, 2007, the Washington Redskins played their first game after Sean Taylor's death against the Buffalo Bills at FedExField. The defense started with 10 players, and fans received commemorative towels with Taylor's number.
December 18, 2007: Posthumous Pro Bowl Selection
On December 18, 2007, Sean Taylor was posthumously voted to his second Pro Bowl, becoming the first deceased player in NFL history to be elected to the Pro Bowl.
2007: Death and Posthumous Honors
During the 2007 season, Sean Taylor was shot and killed. Posthumously, he earned a second Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro honors.
2007: Pro Bowl Appearance
In 2007, Sean Taylor made his first and only Pro Bowl appearance after Brian Dawkins chose not to play due to injury.
2007: Jersey Number Change and Starting Role
In 2007, Sean Taylor retained jersey number 21 and maintained his position as the starting free safety for the Washington Redskins.
2007: All-Century Team Selection
In 2007, Sean Taylor was named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's All-Century Team, recognizing the top players in the 100-year history of high school football in the state.
2007: Hardest-Hitting Player in the NFL
Prior to the start of the 2007 season, Sports Illustrated named Sean Taylor the hardest-hitting player in the NFL.
April 7, 2008: Trial Postponed
The trial for the men charged with Sean Taylor's murder, originally scheduled for April 7, 2008, was postponed to June 2009. The postponement was requested by the defense, citing the need to interview hundreds of potential witnesses.
May 12, 2008: Suspects Avoid 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 be subjected to life imprisonment because the suspected gunman, Eric Rivera, was 17 at the time of the shooting.
May 15, 2008: Vunjah Hunte Accepts Plea Deal
On May 15, 2008, Venjah Hunte, one of the five suspects in Sean Taylor's murder, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
May 2008: Fifth Suspect Charged in Taylor's Murder
In May 2008, a fifth suspect, 16-year-old Timothy Brown, was charged with first-degree murder and burglary in connection to Sean Taylor's death. The murder charges for all suspects were subsequently increased to first-degree murder.
November 30, 2008: Induction into Redskins Ring of Fame
On November 30, 2008, Sean Taylor was posthumously inducted as the 43rd member into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame.
2008: Inducted into Washington's Ring of Fame
In 2008, Sean Taylor was inducted into Washington's Ring of Fame posthumously.
2008: Posthumous Pro Bowl and All-Pro Selection
In 2008, Sean Taylor was posthumously voted starting free safety for the NFC team for the 2008 Pro Bowl and was voted a second team All-Pro.
2008: Pro Bowl Jersey Auction for Memorial Fund
In 2008, teammates Chris Cooley, Chris Samuels, and Ethan Albright wore jerseys with No. 21 during the Pro Bowl. The three jerseys were auctioned off, and the proceeds were donated to the Sean Taylor Memorial Trust Fund.
June 9, 2009: Trial Delayed Again
On June 9, 2009, the trial for Sean Taylor's murder was delayed for a third time for unspecified reasons. A new trial date was set for January 18, 2010.
June 2009: Murder Trial Postponed
In June 2009, the trial of the men charged with Sean Taylor's murder was postponed from April 7, 2008, to June 2009.
September 5, 2009: Sean Taylor Memorial Field Dedication
On September 5, 2009, the football field at Gulliver Prep was renamed Sean Taylor Memorial Field in his honor.
January 18, 2010: Trial Date Set and Postponed Again
On January 18, 2010, a new trial date was set for the Sean Taylor murder case, but it was subsequently postponed again with a new date of March 14, 2011.
March 14, 2011: Trial Date Postponed Again
On March 14, 2011, the Sean Taylor murder trial was postponed again, with a new trial date set for January 30, 2012.
January 20, 2012: Trial Date Set for Eric Rivera Jr.
On January 20, 2012, a judge set a trial date of April 16 for Eric Rivera Jr., the alleged gunman in Sean Taylor's case.
January 30, 2012: Trial Date Set Again
On January 30, 2012, after multiple delays, the Sean Taylor murder trial was set to begin.
April 2, 2013: Trial Again Postponed
On April 2, 2013, the trial for Eric Rivera Jr. was again postponed to August 12 of that year.
April 5, 2013: Rivera's Trial Postponed to August
On April 5, 2013, the trial for Eric Rivera Jr., the alleged gunman in Sean Taylor's murder, was postponed to August 12 due to a scheduling conflict with the chief prosecutor.
January 23, 2014: Rivera Sentenced to Prison
On January 23, 2014, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy sentenced Eric Rivera to 57 1/2 years in prison for Sean Taylor's murder.
2014: Ryan Clark Honors Taylor
In 2014, Sean Taylor's former teammate Ryan Clark returned to the Washington Redskins and wore No. 21 during practices in Taylor's honor.
April 1, 2015: Wardlow Sentenced to Prison
On April 1, 2015, Charles Wardlow, the fourth person charged in Sean Taylor's death, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
2015: Landon Collins to wear number 21 to honor Taylor
Heading into the 2015 season, the New York Giants announced safety Landon Collins would switch from No. 27 to No. 21 to honor Taylor. Collins also wore Taylor's college number (No. 26) during his collegiate career at Alabama as a way to pay tribute.
2016: Su'a Cravens chooses number 36
In 2016, The Washington Redskins' second round pick in the NFL draft, Su'a Cravens, chose No. 36 upon joining the Redskins as a rookie in dedication to Taylor.
2017: Cravens switched to No. 39
In 2017 Su'a Cravens switched to No. 39 after safety D. J. Swearinger requested No. 36 after signing with the Redskins as a free agent. Swearinger wore No. 36 throughout four teams in his professional career as a way to honor Taylor.
October 2021: Jersey Retirement and Road Naming Ceremony
In October 2021, Sean Taylor's jersey number was retired by the team, making him the third player in the team's history to receive this honor. A road leading to the stadium was also named in his honor during the ceremony.
October 17, 2021: Number Retired
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: Display Unveiling
On November 27, 2022, the Washington Commanders unveiled a statue-like display honoring Sean Taylor at FedExField. The unveiling was followed by criticism of the design and lack of a physical statue.
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