Born
Jason Paul Taylor on September 1, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Taylor was home schooled, but later played sports at a local high
school where he lettered in football and basketball.
From
college, Taylor was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and since then
has shown a combination of speed and strength that, in one particular
career highlight, resulted in Taylor becoming the first Dolphin
in club history to lead the NFL in sacks when he acheived 18.5
sacks in 2002.
Off the field,
when not involved in a variety of charity and fund-raising efforts
with wife Katina,
Taylor is sought after for TV appearances and has been a guest
on BET's 106 & Park, MTV Cribs and Fox Best Damn Sports Show
Period.
Taylor also
has been featured in a publications such as Jet Magazine, and
Sports Illustrated for Women, who named him one of the "10
Hottest Men in Sports".
In
an
off-field scuffle in 2006, Taylor made headlines after he was
assaulted at knife point following an apparent
road rage accident in Davie, Florida.
- Jason
Taylor on Dancing with the Stars -
Dancing the paso doble to the "NFL Song".
More
tabloid press followed after wife Katina Taylor, sister of Dolphins
linebacker Zach
Thomas, filed for divorce from Jason in mid-July. Katina later
rescinded the divorce petition against her husband in August,
eight days before a hearing was scheduled.
Jason &
Katina Taylor, married in June 2001, have three children: Isaiah,
3, Mason, 2, and Zoe, who was born Oct. 22, 2005.
Although the
defensive lineman has publicly discussed the possibility of retiring
soon, he ended the the 2006-2007 season being named the NFL's
defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. A year
later, he was selected as the recipient of the Walter Payton Man
of the Year Award for 2007.
Off the field,
Taylor stars as a celebrity dancer on Dancing
with the Stars. True to form, Jason Taylor was one of the
leading scorers throughout the 2008 season, (partnered with professional
dancer Edyta
Sliwinska) but in the finale lost out to former Olympic ice
skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi.
The
Official Site of Jason Taylor - Catch all the latest news,
a complete biography, career stats and highlights, quotes and
factoids, video clips, screensavers and desktop wallpaper along
with picture galleries of the star player both on and off the
field.
The
Jason Taylor Foundation - Charity organization founded
by Taylor and wife, Katina, focusing on health care and education
for children in South Florida. Includes photos, news, related
events and how to contribute.
NFL.com
- Jason Taylor - Thumbnail photo, and complete career
defensive stats and fumbles.