Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was an American football safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected fifth overall in the 2004 NFL draft by the Redskins, where he played four seasons until his murder in 2007.
Taylor with the Washington Redskins in 2005
Taylor before a Redskins' game against the Arizona Cardinals at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe in December 2005
Taylor's family attending his a Washington Redskins ceremony commemorating the retirement of Taylor's jersey number (#21) at FedExField in October 2021
Safety (gridiron football position)
Safety (S), historically known as a safetyman, is a position in gridiron football on the defense. The safeties are defensive backs who line up ten to fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage. There are two variations of the position: the free safety (FS) and the strong safety (SS). Their duties depend on the defensive scheme. The defensive responsibilities of the safety and cornerback usually involve pass coverage towards the middle and sidelines of the field. While American (11-player) formations generally use two safeties, Canadian (12-player) formations generally have one safety and two defensive halfbacks, a position not used in the American game.
Former Washington Redskins free safety Sean Taylor