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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 achieved 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 mSports 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.

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 Katina later rescinded the divorce petition against her husband in August, eight days before a hearing was scheduled.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 has starred 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.

In July 2008, Taylor was traded to the Washington Redskins following a very public skirmish with Dolphin management when he spent his offseason in LA, rather than working out with teammates following his appearance on Dancing with the Stars. However, in 2009 Taylor was back with his hometown team in a new deal that was $7 million less than what Taylor could have earned with the Washington Redskins. In March, Taylor walked away from the $8.5 million he was scheduled to make from the Redskins when he refused to spend the offseason at Redskins Park, preferring to spend the offseason with his family in Miami.

"My heart has always been in Miami and so I'm truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again," Taylor said in a statement in May.

However, in mid-April 2010 Taylor was rumored to be considering a jump to the New York Jets after the Dolphins failed to extend his contract. The news was definitely confirmed on April 20th when it was announced that the Miami Dolphins linebacker agreed to terms with the AFC East-rival Jets on a two-year contract.

More about Jason Taylor around the Web:

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.

Sports: Jason Taylor : First and Ten - Ten questions and answers given by the defensive end in an extensive two-page interview with IGN.

Yahoo! Sports - Jason Taylor - The latest news, career stats and highlights, photo gallery.

also see -> Terrell Owens

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