American football player, linebacker for the New York Giants, one of the greatest defensive players in National Football League (NFL) history. He became known for his ability to sack opposing quarterbacks—that is, tackle the quarterback before he could release the ball. Taylor finished his 13-year career with an NFL record of more than 130 sacks.
Taylor was born in Alexandria, Virginia. He attended North Carolina University, where he was one of the nation's best college linebackers. He was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 1981 college player draft.
Taylor became the first of a new type of linebacker, whose primary responsibility was to pursue quarterbacks. Taylor used his remarkable quickness and strength to get beyond offensive blockers. He also developed new defensive techniques, such as batting the ball out of the passer's hand rather than tackling him. Taylor helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl victories. He was elected to the Pro Bowl ten times