Former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was in the height of his career. The first-round pick had put up multiple Pro Bowl appearances in his first three-plus NFL seasons. He was well on his way to becoming one of the best safeties in the NFL and a potential Hall of Famer.
That’s when tragedy hit on Nov. 18, 2007. Taylor was the victim of a burglary inside his Florida home. He was shot in the upper leg and taken to the hospital where the former Miami (F) star would die some nine days later.
It shocked the football world. A family man, Taylor was just 24 years old at the time of his death. A promising life ended far too early. A family left without its rock. An NFL looking to pick up the pieces in the midst of the season.
Taylor was supposed to turn 37 years old on Wednesday. Now, almost 13 years following his death, the NFL world paid tribute to the larger-than-life figure.