Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Gators legend Fred Taylor joined the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday to discuss several topics, one of which got us thinking about the former NFL running back’s chances at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Fred Taylor Was an Underrated NFL Running Back
Taylor was one of the most underrated performers during his time in the NFL, and that appears to remain years after he retired from professional football. Taylor played 11 seasons in the NFL and made only one Pro Bowl as an alternate. During his career, however, he topped 1,000 rushing yards seven times and was never considered a compiler, averaging a robust 4.5 yards per carry.
It’s possible that Taylor was underrated due to other running backs in the NFL during his time in the league. LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, and Shaun Alexander dominated the league and gained far more notoriety than Taylor did.
Taylor’s NFL career began with a bang as he ran for 1,223 yards and scored 17 touchdowns during his rookie season. The Jaguars continued to lean on him the following season, with Jacksonville setting a franchise record for wins with 14.
It would have seemed impossible to top his first two seasons in the league, but Taylor did just that. In 2000, he ran for 1,399 yards and 12 scores in 13 games, running for over 100 yards in the team’s final nine games.
Unfortunately for Taylor, injuries began to catch up with him and curtailed his prolific career. He would miss the entire 2021 season and receive the moniker “Fragile Fred” due to his lack of availability on a consistent basis.
Taylor would rebound, though, and bury his naysayers with 1,200 yards rushing in three consecutive seasons from 2002-2004. In 2006, the Jaguars brought in Maurice Jones-Drew to complement Taylor, and the Jaguars’ backs became the most dynamic rushing duo in the NFL.
Jones-Drew may have capped Taylor’s TD upside, but he also extended the longevity of his career. The combo was the catalyst for the Jaguars’ offense in 2006 and 2007, as Jacksonville finished near the top in the NFL in team rushing.
Taylor likely flew under the radar because he played for the Jaguars, a small-market team in the NFL. If he had played for a team like the Dallas Cowboys or one in New York, it’s possible Taylor’s career would have received its deserved attention.
Taylor clearly has the longevity and the résumé to be worthy of Hall of Fame consideration, which he vocalized on the Pat McAfee Show.
“I think when you look at the numbers, I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.”
I agree with Taylor and believe his career merits strong consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
