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When the Miami Dolphins traded up early in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday, Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor briefly wondered if his son might follow in his footsteps with the franchise where he built his legendary career.
After the Dolphins chose to invest in the offensive line, Mason Taylor instead went to the New York Jets at No. 42 overall, just five picks after Miami's selection. The moment prompted a candid admission from the elder Taylor: "I'm not gonna lie, yeah, he and I stopped and looked at each other on the couch and thought maybe this is it."
Despite spending 13 of his 15 NFL seasons terrorizing Jets quarterbacks as a Dolphin, Jason Taylor spoke glowingly about his son's destination. "There are certain franchises, there's certain places, there's certain people and communities that are just different, and New York, obviously, is one of them."
The emotional draft night celebration brought the proud father to tears.
"Man, you really can't put it into words," Jason said after hearing Mason's name called. "I'm a very emotional guy when it comes to my kids, so obviously I was crying and overcome with joy for him, but it's the culmination of years and years of work."
"He's been around the game for a long time, from when I played to his own journey and high school and college career," Jason continued. "And it's fulfilling. I told him, it's the beginning of a new journey. The feeling is better than when I was a player."
Mason Taylor's selection at 42nd overall actually topped his father's draft position from a generation earlier. Jason was a third-round pick (73rd overall) by the Dolphins in the 1997 NFL Draft. In this year's class, Mason was the third tight end selected, following Colston Loveland (10th overall) and Tyler Warren (14th overall).
What makes this story particularly compelling is that Jason Taylor himself briefly wore the green and white, creating a unique connection between father and son.
"It's a dream come true for my son to play in the NFL and kind of walk in the shoes that I was so blessed to walk in," Jason said. "Then to go to a franchise that I played for, and in the greatest city on the planet."
On April 20, 2010, Jason Taylor joined the Jets on a two-year contract with $2.5 million guaranteed. In his 14th season in the league, Taylor appeared in all 16 games for New York, recording 36 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles.
That 2010 Jets team was formidable, holding opponents to less than 20 points per game on their way to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. New York's season ended with a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game — the deepest postseason run of Taylor's illustrious career.
Taylor was released on February 28, 2011, and played one final season with Miami before retiring after 15 years in the NFL. Fittingly, his last game was against the Jets. Today, Taylor continues to reside in Fort Lauderdale and serves as an assistant coach for the University of Miami.
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After the Dolphins chose to invest in the offensive line, Mason Taylor instead went to the New York Jets at No. 42 overall, just five picks after Miami's selection. The moment prompted a candid admission from the elder Taylor: "I'm not gonna lie, yeah, he and I stopped and looked at each other on the couch and thought maybe this is it."
Despite spending 13 of his 15 NFL seasons terrorizing Jets quarterbacks as a Dolphin, Jason Taylor spoke glowingly about his son's destination. "There are certain franchises, there's certain places, there's certain people and communities that are just different, and New York, obviously, is one of them."
The emotional draft night celebration brought the proud father to tears.
"Man, you really can't put it into words," Jason said after hearing Mason's name called. "I'm a very emotional guy when it comes to my kids, so obviously I was crying and overcome with joy for him, but it's the culmination of years and years of work."
"He's been around the game for a long time, from when I played to his own journey and high school and college career," Jason continued. "And it's fulfilling. I told him, it's the beginning of a new journey. The feeling is better than when I was a player."
Mason Taylor's selection at 42nd overall actually topped his father's draft position from a generation earlier. Jason was a third-round pick (73rd overall) by the Dolphins in the 1997 NFL Draft. In this year's class, Mason was the third tight end selected, following Colston Loveland (10th overall) and Tyler Warren (14th overall).
What makes this story particularly compelling is that Jason Taylor himself briefly wore the green and white, creating a unique connection between father and son.
"It's a dream come true for my son to play in the NFL and kind of walk in the shoes that I was so blessed to walk in," Jason said. "Then to go to a franchise that I played for, and in the greatest city on the planet."
On April 20, 2010, Jason Taylor joined the Jets on a two-year contract with $2.5 million guaranteed. In his 14th season in the league, Taylor appeared in all 16 games for New York, recording 36 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles.
That 2010 Jets team was formidable, holding opponents to less than 20 points per game on their way to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. New York's season ended with a 24-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game — the deepest postseason run of Taylor's illustrious career.
Taylor was released on February 28, 2011, and played one final season with Miami before retiring after 15 years in the NFL. Fittingly, his last game was against the Jets. Today, Taylor continues to reside in Fort Lauderdale and serves as an assistant coach for the University of Miami.
Related: Jets Spurn Offensive Line Needs, Draft Tight End
Related: Jets Add New Receiver with 'Elite Speed' For Justin Fields
Related: Jets Add New Receiver with 'Elite Speed' For Justin Fields
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