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John Kim, ESPN Staff Writer
The Washington Commanders are planning to build a statue to honor their late former player Sean Taylor, two years after unveiling a memorial that was criticized by their fans — and has already been permanently removed.
Taylor, who will retire his No. 21 jersey in 2022, becomes the first former player to be memorialized with a statue. Taylor’s daughter, Jackie, will help design the statue. She was 18 months old when he was killed in November 2007.
“I’m so grateful for the whole process,” said Taylor, a first-year volleyball player at North Carolina who wears her father’s former number. “I think the fans are really going to enjoy what they’re going to see and get a second chance. You don’t really get many second chances. The fact that we’re able to get a second chance is nice… There’s a lot of excitement.”
Taylor said her family was grateful for the previous memorial, which was displayed inside the stadium.
“Any opportunity we have to honor my father, we will take it positively,” she said in a video conference.
But many fans felt differently, noting that the initial fit did not include the correct jersey (Reebok instead of Nike) and that they did not put pieces of tape across his entire face mask — as Taylor did while playing. The organization quickly changed the fit to include these changes, as well as the correct style of socks and shoes.
Leaders notified Taylor’s family of the removal of the installation. Washington hosts New England in its final preseason game Sunday night.
“After careful consideration, we have decided as an organization to remove the Sean Taylor statue from Commanders Stadium,” a team spokesperson said in a statement. “We recognize that the statue was not enough to honor one of our team’s most iconic players. In collaboration with the Taylor family, we are working on a plan to unveil a statue that truly celebrates the legacy and impact Sean has had on our organization, fan base and community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a first-class manner.”
No specific date has been set for the unveiling of the statue, with the team set to meet with the sculptor soon, according to a team source. The source also said they plan to “honor our legends” in the coming years, including whenever they move to a new stadium. The team has not yet settled on a new location, but they are targeting 2030 as the date they would like to open their next stadium.
Taylor also said in a statement that she was “filled with gratitude that my father will forever be a part of the Burgundy and golf family.”
Washington will retire Hall of Famer Darrell Green’s No. 28 jersey at halftime of the Week 7 game against Carolina. The organization also retired Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49) and Sonny Jorgensen (9).
A group led by Josh Harris purchased the team from Dan Snyder in July 2023; Snyder was close to the Taylor family.
Taylor played for Washington from 2004 to 2007, becoming one of the organization’s most popular players for the new generation.
Several NFL safeties have worn his No. 21 since his death — including former Washington safety Landon Collins when he was with the New York Giants — often citing his style of play as the reason.
Taylor, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 230 pounds, was a fearsome player in the middle of the field. He was seen as a strong safety who could make big plays. He intercepted five passes in nine games in the 2007 season.