Taylor was born in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was the second of seven children, including four girls and three boys.[2] Taylor was raised by his mother, Myrtle, and step father, James Stevenson. His mother was a domestic worker, chef, butcher and restaurant owner. His stepfather constructed parts for airplanes.[2]
Taylor also pitched and played third base for the Sun Devils baseball team. However, during baseball practice, he was hit on a knee by a line drive, which ended his baseball career.[2]
Taylor was inducted into the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1975.[8]
Professional career
Taylor was selected by the Washington Redskins as the third overall pick of the 1964 NFL draft.[3] He was also selected in the AFL draft, taken ninth by the Houston Oilers.[10] Taylor signed with Washington and won the UPI rookie of the year award as a running back,[11] and became the first NFL rookie in 20 years to finish in the top 10 in the league in both rushing (sixth with 755 yards) and receiving (eighth, 53 receptions for 814 yards).[3] The 53 catches were a then-record for running backs.[3]
Although known as a successful running back, Taylor was switched to wide receiver in 1966 and led the NFL in receiving in both 1966 and 1967.[3] He played that position for the rest of his career and had a record-tying seven seasons with 50 or more receptions.[3] In 1972, he scored two touchdowns in Washington's win over the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football Conference Championship Game,[12] advancing them to their first Super Bowl.[13] They lost in Super Bowl VII to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.[13] In the season finale in 1975, Taylor passed Don Maynard and became the NFL's all-time receptions leader with his 634th career catch on December 21 against the Philadelphia Eagles.[14][15] Following Maynard's retirement in 1973, Taylor was the league's active leader in receiving yards for four seasons. He began 1974 with 7,470 yards, then 11th all-time,[16] and climbed up to 4th.[17]
Taylor retired following the 1977 season as the NFL's all-time leading receiver with 649 receptions,[18] for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns.[3] His career receptions record stood until 1984, when he was passed by Charlie Joiner.[19] With 1,488 yards rushing and some kick return yardage, Taylor totaled 10,803 combined net yards. Along with his 11 touchdowns rushing, Taylor scored 540 points in his career.[3] He was named first- or second-team All-Pro six times and was selected to eight Pro Bowls.[3]
After retiring, Taylor was hired to work in the Redskins' front office with Bobby Mitchell as a scout.[2] He became their receivers coach in 1981, when Joe Gibbs became the head coach.[2] He served on the coaching staff through 1993 under Richie Petitbon, but was not retained by new head coach Norv Turner in March 1994, ending three decades with the franchise.[2][22]
Personal life and death
Taylor and his wife Patricia married in 1965. The Taylors lived in Reston, Virginia. They had three children, Elizabeth, Erica, and Charles Jr., and three grandchildren, Robyn, Jordyn, and Nathan.[2] He did speaking engagements and served as a consultant to the Commanders.[2]
^Alper, Josh (February 19, 2022). "Charley Taylor dies at 80". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
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