Longtime defensive end Jason Taylor is the first Miami Dolphins player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Dan Marino in 2005 and the team’s 10th Hall of Fame member. A third-round pick out of Akron in the 1997 NFL draft, Taylor ended his career in 2011 as the Dolphins’ all-time leader in sacks and forced fumbles. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time AP All-Pro first-team choice, Taylor was named the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was selected as the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2007.
“Getting that knock on the door was one of, if not the most emotional and rewarding moments of my career. The Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of what we do in professional football, and there are only 310 men in the history of our great game that are a member of that team; and now I find myself one of them. It’s still hard for me to believe, or to even say it, but I couldn’t be any happier. And the best part of it all is that I got to share the entire experience with my sons.” – Jason Taylor
Among Taylor’s other notable career accomplishments:
- He recorded double-digit sacks six times during an eight-year span (2000-07).
- He led the NFL in sacks in 2002 with a career-high 18.5.
- He recorded most sacks than any player in the NFL from 2000 until the end of his career in 2011.
- He shares the NFL career record for opponent fumble recoveries with 29.
- He owns the NFL record with six fumble returns for touchdowns.
- He was named Dolphins MVP four times.
- He was selected as a member of the 2000s All-Decade team.