Fred Taylor life and biography

Fred Taylor is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Fred Taylor was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on Feb. 27, 2009 ... Originally selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Jaguars (7/6/98) ... Re-signed by the Jaguars (3/23/03) ... Re-signed by the Jaguars (3/1/07) ... Placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury (12/11/08) ... Released by the Jaguars (2/16/09).

Career Highlights

* Taylor joined the Patriots in 2009 after spending his first 11 NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1998-2008).
* Taylor enters 2010 having totaled 11,540 career rushing yards, placing him 15th on the NFL's all-time career rushing list and second among all active players.
* Taylor is the Jaguars' all-time leader in rushing yards (11,271), yards from scrimmage (13,632), rushing touchdowns (62), overall touchdowns (70) and 100-yard rushing games (48).
* Taylor has recorded seven seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards, tying the tenth-highest total in NFL history.
* Taylor earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2007, leading the Jaguars with 1,202 rushing yards and finishing the year with five straight 100-yard rushing games.
* Taylor became the 21st player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career rushing yards, accomplishing the feat on Nov. 11, 2007 at Tennessee.
* After missing 14 games with a groin injury in 2001, he put together a three-year run (2002-04) during which he averaged more than 1,700 yards from scrimmage per year.
* Taylor rushed for 100 yards in nine consecutive games in 2000, tied with Walter Payton for the third-longest streak in NFL history behind Barry Sanders (14), Marcus Allen (11), and Chris Johnson (11).
* In 1999, Taylor was solid in the playoffs, breaking the 100-yard rushing mark in both of Jacksonville's postseason games and recording the longest run in NFL playoff history - a 90-yard touchdown against Miami on Jan. 15, 2000.
* As a rookie in 1998, Taylor recorded 14 rushing touchdowns and 17 overall touchdowns, with both figures still standing as career highs and Jaguars team records. Taylor also led all NFL rookies with 1,223 rushing yards and 1,644 yards from scrimmage.

2010 (3/0)
* Was inactive due to injury against Miami (10/4).
* Had 16 yards on six carries against the Bills (9/26).
* Recorded 11 yards on five carries against the Jets (9/19).
* Rushed 14 times for 71 yards in the Bengals game (9/12), including a 24-yard run in the first quarter - the longest of his Patriots career.

2009 (6/1, 1/0)
* Played in six games with one start at running back while making 63 carries for 269 yards with four rushing touchdowns and collecting two receptions for 17 yards.
* Missed 10 games due to an injury that occurred in the victory vs. Baltimore (10/4).
* Returned to action vs. Jacksonville (12/27) as the Patriots beat the Jaguars 35-7 to claim the AFC East title.
* Made his Patriots debut vs. Buffalo (9/14) in the season-opener and scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
* Registered his 49th career 100-yard game and first as a member of the Patriots vs. Atlanta (9/27) with 105 yards on 21 carries for a 5.0-yard average. With a 19-yard run in the second quarter, moved past John Riggins (11,352) into 15th place on the NFL's all-time rushing list.
* Tallied his ninth career multi-touchdown game in the regular-season finale at Houston (1/3), when he scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter.

2008 (13/13 - Jacksonville)
* Played in 13 games and had 556 yards on 143 carries.
* Placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury (12/12).
* Jaguars team captain for the second consecutive season.
* Became the 18th NFL player to surpass 11,000 yards against Detroit (11/9).
* Surpassed 13,000 yards from scrimmage in the season opener against Tennessee (9/7).
* Recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season at Indianapolis (9/21), finishing with 121 yards on 26 carries (4.7 avg.).
* Led the team with 18 carries for 80 yards against Detroit (11/9).
* Led the team with 67 rushing yards on nine carries with one touchdown against Houston (12/1).
* Scored his 70th career touchdown in the fourth quarter to surpass Jimmy Smith (69) for the Jaguars franchise record.
* Rushed 13 times for 53 yards against Chicago (12/7) and moved into 16th place in NFL history with 11,271 rushing yards, surpassing O.J. Simpson (11,236) and Corey Dillon (11,241).

2007 (15/15, 2/2 - Jacksonville)
* Started 15 games as team captain and led team in rushing with 223 carries for 1,202 yards and five touchdowns.
* Finished with five 100-yard games and was only player in the NFL to record five straight 100-plus-yard rushing games.
* Earned first Pro Bowl trip of his career and was named to second-team Associated Press All-Pro Team.
* Became the 21st player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career rushing yards and set the franchise's career record for yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards.
* Ranked fifth in the AFC in rushing yards and led the AFC with a career-best 5.4 average per rush.
* Tied for first in NFL with career-high four rushes of 50-plus yards and finished with two of the four longest rushes in the NFL.
* Set a Jaguars' team record with 80-yard touchdown run against Carolina (12/9).
* Ranked second in the NFL with 36 rushes of 10-plus yards and tied for fourth with eight rushes of 20-plus yards.
* Teamed with Maurice Jones-Drew (167-768, 9 TDs) to rank second in the NFL as a duo for the second consecutive year with 1,970 rushing yards.
* Recorded 20 carries for 85 yards against San Diego (11/18) and surpassed Jimmy Smith (12,285) for most career yards from scrimmage in team history.
* Registered his first 100-yard rushing game of the season against Buffalo (11/25) as he totaled 104 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown.
* Scored on a 50-yard run and became only the third Jaguar to reach 400 career points (Mike Hollis, Jimmy Smith).
* Became only player in NFL in 2007 to record 100-plus rushing yards in five consecutive games as he finished with 111 rushing yards on only seven carries (15.9 avg.) against Oakland (12/23).
* Led team with 47 yards in AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Patriots (1/12) and topped Jimmy Smith (647) for the team record with 682 career postseason yards from scrimmage.

2006 (15/15 - Jacksonville)
* Started 15 games and finished with a team-high 231 carries for 1,146 yards and five touchdowns.
* Posted then career-high 5.0-yards per carry average and had four games with 100-plus yards in addition to 23 receptions for 242 yards and one touchdown.
* Teamed with Maurice Jones-Drew (166-941-13 TDs) for the most rushing yards by a duo in team history with 2,087.
* Jaguars came within 59 yards of becoming only the fifth team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yard rushers in a season.

2005 (11/11, 1/1 - Jacksonville)
* Started and played in 11 games and was inactive for five games due to injuries.
* Led team with 787 yards on 194 carries and tied for third with three rushing touchdowns and registered 13 receptions for 83 yards.
* Rushed for 100-plus yards in three games.
* Surpassed 8,000-yard rushing mark in his career.

2004 (14/14 - Jacksonville)
* Started and played in 14 games.
* Ended a streak of 46 consecutive starts, which was the third longest active streak in the NFL for running backs at the time, after injuring his left knee in Week 15.
* Rushed for team-high 1,224 yards on 260 carries.
* Ranked seventh in the AFC and 10th in the NFL in rushing yards and sixth in the AFC and ninth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,569 yards (1,224 rushing, 345 yards receiving).
* Caught 36 passes for 345 yards and one touchdown
* Went over 7,500 yards rushing for his career and finished the season 552 yards shy of 10,000 all-purpose yards.
* For the fifth time in seven seasons went over 1,000 yards (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004).

2003 (16/16 - Jacksonville)
* Started and played in all 16 games for the second consecutive season and rushed for 1,572 yards on 345 carries, both team-records.
* Ranked fourth in the AFC and sixth in the NFL in yards rushing and fourth in the AFC and sixth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,942 yards (1,572 rushing, 370 yards receiving).
* Had second-most receptions in career with 48 for 370 yards and one touchdown.
* Rushed for over 100 yards in seven games and in six of the final eight games of the season.

2002 (16/16 - Jacksonville)
* Started and played in all 16 games for first time in career.
* Finished season with team-leading 1,314 yards rushing, the third-highest total in team history.
* Also totaled 1,722 total yards from scrimmage, setting a then team single-season record.
* Rushed 287 times for 4.6-yard average and eight touchdowns.
* Set career high with 49 receptions (second on team) for 408 yards (8.3 average, 72 long).
* Ranked seventh in the AFC in rushing and ninth in AFC in yards from scrimmage.
* His 4.6-yard average per carry ranked fifth among AFC backs.

2001 (2/2 - Jacksonville)
* Played in the first two games of the season before missing the next 14 games of the season with a groin injury.
* Had 30 rushes for 116 yards (3.9 average) and caught two passes for 13 yards.

2000 (13/13 - Jacksonville)
* Finished season with 1,399 yards rushing (fifth in AFC and sixth in NFL) despite missing three games.
* His 4.8-yard average per carry ranked third among AFC backs, and his 14 touchdowns tied for fifth in AFC.
* His 292 carries established a then team record and scored 14 touchdowns (12 rushing, two receiving), the second-highest total in Jaguars history.
* Also had 36 receptions for 240 yards (19 long).
* Scored touchdowns in the final seven games of the season.

1999 (10/9, 2/2 - Jacksonville)
* Started nine of 10 games played, missing six with a hamstring injury.
* Ranked second on team with 732 yards on 159 carries (4.6-yard average, 52 long) and six touchdowns.
* Played in two postseason games, turning in two 100-yard games and finishing with 245 yards on 37 carries and one touchdown, as well as three receptions for 55 yards with one touchdown.
* Had three 100-yard games during the regular season, in addition to two in the playoffs.

1998 (15/12, 2/2 - Jacksonville)
* As a rookie, had at the time the best season by a running back in Jaguars history, setting 29 team records.
* Rushed 264 times for 1,223 yards (4.6-yard average) and 14 touchdowns and caught 44 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns.
* Led all NFL rookies with 1,223 rushing yards and 1,644 total yards.
* Finished rookie campaign as the sixth-leading rusher in AFC and 10th in NFL.
* Posted six 100-yard rushing games, then a team record, the most by an NFL rookie since 1995 (Curtis Martin, nine).
* Scored 17 total touchdowns (tied for second in NFL) and 14 rushing touchdowns, team single-season records.
* Tied for the second-most TDs in the NFL behind Terrell Davis (23).
* Only player in NFL with more than 1,200 yards rushing, 12 rushing TDs, a 4.5-yard average per carry, 40 or more receptions and 1,600 yards total offense.
* His 4.6-yard rushing average was fifth in NFL.
* Finished third in voting for Rookie of the Year by Associated Press.
* Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in both September and December, becoming the first player to win the award twice, and was named NFL Player of the Week for his Nov. 15 performance vs. Tampa Bay.
* His rushing total of 162 yards against the Patriots (1/3) ranked third in NFL postseason history for a rookie.
* Named NFL Offensive Player of the Week for the Wild Card weekend, becoming the first rookie to win the award.

Personal

* Frederick Antwon Taylor was born on Jan. 27, 1976.
* Was a Parade, USA Today and Blue Chip Illustrated All-America selection at Glades Central High in his native Belle Glade, Fla.
* Also named Florida "Super Senior," as well as all-state and Class 3A Player of the Year and finished second in the voting for Florida's "Mr. Football" accolades in 1993.
* Rushed 150 times for 1,545 yards (10.3 average), scoring 20 touchdowns as a senior.
* Served as Jaguars team spokesperson for holiday food distribution program, Operation Blessing.
* Serves as the spokesman for the Leukemia Society of America and Lymphona Society of America.
* Serves as spokesman for the Glades Asthma Project, aimed at improving the functioning of children living with asthma in his hometown of Belle Glade, Fla. ... Appeared in posters with an asthma education message designed to promote community awareness and asthma screenings in schools, and to assist parents with home assessments.
* Fred and his wife Andrea have five children - a daughter, Nataajah and sons Inari, Kelvin, Austin and Braylon.
* Majored in sociology.

Extra
* In 1998, Fred and Patriots teammate Randy Moss both scored 17 touchdowns as rookies, each tying the third highest total by a rookie in NFL history.
* In March of 2010, he was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. Taylor starred at Glades Central High School in the early 1990s and was the county's 1993 Lou Groza Award Player of the Year recipient as well as the state's Class 3A player of the year.
* In April of 2010, he was inducted into the Univeristy of Florida Hall of Fame.

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