The Death of a Redskin Star

As a tribute to Sean Taylor the Washington Redskins defense came onto the field with only 10 players instead of the usual 11 on the first down played after his death. Sean was born April 1, 1983 in Miami, Florida.  He started to play the game at the age of six, and because of the skills he received playing high school football, he was recruited by the University of Miami. As a junior, Shawn stated that this was going to be his last year in college, and that he was going to play pro football. Shawn was drafted by the Washington Redskins with the fifth overall selection.

It seems that after Sean began his career with the Redskins turmoil seemed to follow. Sean fired his agent, and skipped the mandatory rookie symposium, for which he had to pay a huge fine. He was pulled over for drunk driving, fined for late hits during the games, and for uniform violations, and then for spitting in the face of an opponent during a 2006 playoff game.   

With the turmoil that seemed to be following Sean, during the 2005 season he became recognized as the hardest hitter in the league. Sean became the first player in NFL to be elected to the Pro Bowl posthumously, and was also the first player in any sport to be so since Pelle Lindbergh of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers in 1986. During the Pro Bowl the Redskins that were elected to play wore the number 21 to honor him.

Recognizing the death of Sean, the NFL put his number 21 on all players helmets on the 13 week of the season in the NFL, and a moment of silence was held before the start of every game. NFL players were given the option of wearing his number for the rest of the season.

Washington Redskins started makeshift memorials with the number 21 painted on the field, on the parking lot entrance and the Redskins Hall of Fame.