Getty ImagesThe Jaguars took a break from dealing with Justin Blackmon fallout Thursday to make a happier announcement.
Retired running back Fred Taylor, the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards (and 15th in NFL history), will be honored before the September 30th game against the Bengals. Taylor will become the second player enshrined in the Pride of the Jaguars, the team’s ring of honor. Tackle Tony Boselli is the other player and former owner Wayne Weaver and his wife have also been so honored.
“While I am new to Jacksonville and the Jaguars, I fully understand that Fred Taylor is a Jaguars icon and one of the greatest Jaguars players ever,” said Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan in a statement from the team. “Fred has earned his place in the Pride of the Jaguars, both with his record-setting performances on the field as well as with his involvement in the Jacksonville community throughout his career. That’s what I hear from Jaguars fans, and that’s what I’ve personally seen as well. There are a lot of reasons that Fred remains one of the most popular players to wear the Jaguars uniform, and I’m pleased to announce that we will recognize him this fall.”
At a Thursday press conference, Taylor said, via Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union, that he has no regrets when he looks back on his career. That doesn’t quite fit with his involvement in the lawsuits by former players seeking compensation from the NFL for concussions they received during their playing days. Based on that, it would seem Taylor regrets not knowing more about concussions.
As for the rest of it, not much to regret about 11,695 rushing yards, 74 career touchdowns and a place as one of the first great players in Jaguars history.
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Freddy! Freddy! Freddy!
Hats off to Freddy, a true class act, on and off the field.
That dude was a beast when healthy. You gotta love Fred Taylor.
Completely deserves the honor. Thanks for the wonderful memories, Fred. I’ll never forget being in the stands yelling “GO FRED, GO FRED, GO FRED” as you broke off amazing run after amazing run.
The remark about “former players seeking compensation from the NFL for concussions” at the end of the article was unnecessary. It was a solid piece recognizing Fred Taylor, no need to take cheap shots at the end.
Most underrated back of his day. And a HOF if he could have stayed healthy.
Congrats Freddy T. GO JAGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hope he doesn’t get ring sting–ouchy
such a storied franchise…i didnt think there’d be room for anyone else in their “ring of honor”
He better be careful, that he doesn’t get hurt walking out onto the field for the ceremony.
I have to give credit to joetoronto for his post in this Jags article. Nice to see.
Hopefully he doesn’t sprain his ankle entering the Ring of Honor.
wow at the 2nd to last paragraph; a disgrace
I always will wonder what he might have been, had his knees not kept exploding on him…
GREAT RB. When he runs, he has the tenacity, elusiveness, his cut, they were fun to watch. Not to mention his humility.
Thanks for all the year Freddy.
There aren’t many Jags I respect. Fred Taylor’s one of the few.
Fred Taylor gave all he had and left it all on the field. And that’s all I have to say about that.
What’s with the ‘fragile freddy’ jokes? The media undeservedly pinned that on him as a kid and he’s outlived it by at least a decade. He missed 1.5 seasons to injury in a 13 year career and played 140 games in 11 years with the Jags. Taylor was a great player and would be a first ballot HOF’er if he spent his career anywhere but JAX.
I’d turn the entire upper deck into the Ring of Honor to cover up the empty seats.
Good for him.
Don’t you have to have more than a person or two to be considered a “ring” of honor? I’d call it a man of honor, or now a pair of honor until they’ve hit enough guys to make some resemblance of a circle.
Congrats Freddy T! One of my all-time favorites.
He has to be one of the most underrated players of his generation.
A player doesn’t have over 11,000 yards rushing & over 14,000 yards from scrimmage by being fragile. Fred Taylor was a great player. If you need to ask anybody, ask Jim Freakin’ Brown. One time a reporter asked him who his favorite was…Jim Brown said “Fred Taylor”…nuff said!
Damn I’m old. I remember when the Jags were good…
#28 in Teal, Black & Gold that’s a weapon unlike no other & well deserving of this honor. Honor to watch his career progress.
You think Freddy was good…wait til you see his son Kelvin! He’s got that dead leg cut like his daddy and take it to the house! He’s already broke Emmitt Smith’s long standing Florida High School rushing record!
Just wait and see!
congrats to Fred Taylor. Remember what he did in the playoff game v miami?