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Charley Taylor, the Corridor of Fame receiver who after 13 seasons taking part in for Washington retired with probably the most catches in professional soccer historical past, died on Saturday at an assisted dwelling facility in Virginia. He was 80.
The Washington Commanders introduced the demise in a press release however didn’t specify the trigger.
Taylor was an All-American operating again from Arizona State when he was drafted in 1964 by the Redskins, because the Washington soccer group was then known as. He was quick however undisciplined, recurrently outrunning his personal linemen within the backfield; nonetheless, he was named Rookie of the 12 months.
Taylor had 53 receptions that yr, then a file for a operating again. In 1966, Otto Graham, who took over as Washington’s coach at a time when the group was a perennial loser, transformed Taylor right into a full-time receiver, hoping to make his energy and dexterity components within the open subject.
Taylor, who as an adolescent had dreamed of emulating the powerhouse operating again Jim Brown, initially resisted the change in his sport this required. However then he found that beginning with the ball past the road of scrimmage suited his means to juke and shift gears. After evading or overpowering cornerbacks, Taylor usually ran for lengthy features after a catch.
Reviewing his profession when he retired in 1978, The Washington Submit known as Taylor “the person who had given extra complications to cornerbacks than any cross catcher to play the sport.”
Throughout Taylor’s first season as a receiver, he led the league in receptions with 72 and served as the first possibility of the longer term Corridor of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, who led the league in passing yards with 3,209. Over 10 years as teammates, the 2 turned one of many premier offensive duos in N.F.L. historical past.
Taylor helped propel Washington to constant successful information within the early and mid-Nineteen Seventies, however the group by no means managed to win a title. Within the 1972 playoffs, Washington dismantled the reigning champion Dallas Cowboys within the N.F.C. championship sport, 26-3, with Taylor recording two landing receptions, together with one for 45 yards. Within the Tremendous Bowl, nonetheless, Washington misplaced to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.
Taylor held the profession file for receptions till Charlie Joiner of the San Diego Chargers surpassed him in 1984, the yr Taylor was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Taylor stays Washington’s profession chief in landing receptions, with 79, and he’s tied for the franchise’s single-season file for landing receptions, with 12. He made the Professional Bowl eight instances and was on the Corridor of Fame’s All-Nineteen Sixties group.
Charles Robert Taylor was born on Sept. 28, 1941, in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was raised there by his mom, Myrtle, a chef, butcher and restaurant proprietor, and his stepfather, James Stevenson, who constructed airplane components.
Charley was a star athlete at his segregated highschool, however he struggled to discover a school the place he may play soccer — collegiate groups in Texas have been nonetheless segregated — and he thought of coming into the navy. As a substitute, his soccer profession was launched when a person who owned a neighborhood grocery retailer and had attended Arizona State organized a gathering between Charley and the college’s soccer coach, Frank Kush.
When Taylor entered the N.F.L., there have been no Black quarterbacks or coaches. After retiring, he set his ambitions on making historical past by turning into the primary Black head coach or basic supervisor. He spent 16 years working with the Redskins as a scout and coach, however he by no means ascended past an assistant place.
Taylor is survived by his spouse, Patricia (Grant) Taylor; their three kids, Elizabeth, Erica and Charles Jr.; and several other grandchildren.
Taylor didn’t rejoice touchdowns with a standard spike. He held his arms aloft, soccer in hand, whereas trying pridefully across the subject.
“It was type of a gesture stated, ‘I’ve carried out all I can do with the ball,’” Taylor defined in an interview with NFL Movies. “It was my method of claiming, ‘I relaxation my case.’”
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