Jason Paul Taylor was born September 1, 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins was home-schooled from 10th to 12th grade. He remained active in sports by playing football and basketball at the Woodland Hills High School. Upon finishing high school, he attended the University of Akron and became part of the college football and basketball team. During his junior and senior years, he became a two-time First Team All-Mid American Conference selection. He was also an All-America pick.
In 1997, he was chosen by the Dolphins in the third round of the NFL draft. Jason Taylor's skills had been noticed and admired throughout the years. In 2000, he was chosen as NFL Alumni Association Pass Rusher of the Year. He was also named as NFL Alumni Association Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2005 and in 2006. Also in 2006, after setting the record of 13.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 2 fumble returns and 2 interceptions, he was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He received the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 2007. Taylor is a four-time First or Second Team All-Pro, and a six-time Pro Bowl selection. He was also a seven-time recipient of the NFL Defensive Player of the Week.
Taylor has recorded eight career defensive touchdowns, two career safeties and two career field goal blocks. He was featured as one of the ten sexiest athletes in the 2001 issue of Sports Illustrated. He tied the knot with Katina Taylor, sister of his teammate Zach Thomas.
Jason Taylor is a celebrity contestant on season 6 of ABC's reality series Dancing with the Stars, a program which features the partnerships of celebrities and professional ballroom dancers as they compete in weekly elimination rounds until a winning duo is declared. He is paired with professional dancer
Edyta Sliwinska .
(Photo courtesy of ABC)