View source for Charley Taylor

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1941–2022)}}
{{Similar names|Charles Taylor (disambiguation){{!}}Charles Taylor}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Charley Taylor
| image         = Charley Taylor, 49ers at Redskins 2019 (48933481837) (cropped).jpg
| alt           =
| caption       = Taylor in 2019
| number        = 42
| position      = {{hlist|[[Wide receiver]]|[[running back]]}}
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1941|9|28|}}
| birth_place   = [[Grand Prairie, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2022|02|19|1941|9|28|mf=y}}
| death_place   = [[Ashburn, Virginia]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 3
| weight_lbs    = 210
| high_school   = [[Dalworth High School|Dalworth]] (Grand Prairie)
| college       = [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]] (1961–1963)
| draftyear     = 1964
| draftround    = 1
| draftpick     = 3
| afldraftyear  = 1964
| afldraftround = 2
| afldraftpick  = 9
| pastteams     =
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1964}}–{{NFL Year|1975}}, {{NFL Year|1977}})
| pastcoaching  =
* Washington Redskins ({{NFL year|1981|1993}})<br>Wide receivers coach
| highlights    =
* 3× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XVII|XVII]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]]) 
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1967 All-Pro Team|1967]])
* 5× Second-team All-Pro ([[1964 All-Pro Team|1964]], [[1966 All-Pro Team|1966]], [[1968 All-Pro Team|1968]], [[1969 All-Pro Team|1969]], [[1974 All-Pro Team|1974]])
* 8× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1965 Pro Bowl|1964]]–[[1968 Pro Bowl|1967]], [[1973 Pro Bowl|1972]]–[[1976 Pro Bowl|1975]])
* [[NFL Rookie of the Year]] (1964)
* 2× [[List of NFL annual receptions leaders|NFL receptions leader]] (1966, 1967)
* [[NFL 1960s All-Decade Team]]
* [[90 Greatest Commanders]]
* [[Commanders Ring of Fame]]
| HOF           = charley-taylor
| statlabel1    = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1    = 649
| statlabel2    = Receiving yards
| statvalue2    = 9,110
| statlabel3    = Yards per reception
| statvalue3    = 14.0
| statlabel4    = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue4    = 79
| statlabel5    = Rushing yards
| statvalue5    = 1,488
| statlabel6    = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue6    = 11
| pfr           = TaylCh00 
}}

'''Charles Robert Taylor''' (September 28, 1941 – February 19, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] for 13 seasons with the [[Washington Redskins]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). After playing [[college football]] for the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State Sun Devils]], he was selected by Washington in the first round of the [[1964 NFL draft]]. With Taylor, the Redskins made the [[National Football League playoffs|playoffs]] five times ([[1971 Washington Redskins season|1971]]–[[1974 Washington Redskins season|1974]], [[1976 Washington Redskins season|1976]]) and reached the [[Super Bowl]] once ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]]), after the [[1972 Washington Redskins season|1972 season]].<ref name=schudel_02192022>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Schudel|title=Charley Taylor, Hall of Fame receiver for Washington, dies at 80|date=February 19, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/charley-taylor-redskins-obit/2022/02/19/213b82a0-d478-11eb-ae54-515e2f63d37d_story.html|access-date=February 22, 2022}}</ref> A six-time [[All-Pro]] and eight-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection, he was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1984.

==Early life==
Taylor was born in [[Grand Prairie, Texas]]. He was the second of seven children, including four girls and three boys.<ref name=janis>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Janis|work=Capital News Services |url=http://johnnypnews.com/taylor.htm |title=Whatever Happened To.... Charley Taylor |access-date=June 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104071033/http://www.johnnypnews.com/taylor.htm |archive-date=November 4, 2006 }}</ref>  Taylor was raised by his mother, Myrtle, and step father, James Stevenson. His mother was a domestic worker, chef, butcher and restaurant owner. His stepfather constructed parts for airplanes.<ref name=janis />

Taylor began playing sports in junior high school, and was playing football, [[baseball]], [[basketball]], and running in [[Track and field|track]] by the eighth grade.<ref name=janis /> He played [[high school football]] at [[Dalworth High School]].<ref name=janis />  In track and field, he competed in [[high hurdles]], [[discus]], [[shot put]], and [[long jump]]. Although Dalworth did not have a baseball team, he played in a summer league. He earned all-state honors in both track and football.<ref name=janis />

==College career==
Taylor played [[college football]] at [[Arizona State University]] (ASU) in [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] and [[defensive back]].<ref name=profootballhof>{{cite web | work=Pro Football Hall of Fame | url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/charley-taylor | title=Charley Taylor's HOF Profile | access-date=February 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Connor|last=Smith|title=Sun Devil Athletics Mourns Passing of Charley Taylor|date=February 20, 2022|publisher=Arizona State Sun Devil Athletics|url=https://thesundevils.com/news/2022/2/20/football-sun-devil-athletics-mourns-passing-of-charley-taylor.aspx|access-date=February 24, 2022}}</ref>  He was selected to the All-[[Western Athletic Conference]] team as a halfback.<ref name=profootballhof />  Following his final season with the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Sun Devils]], Taylor played in the [[East-West Shrine Game]], the [[Hula Bowl]], and the [[All-American Bowl]].<ref name=profootballhof />  He also played in the [[Chicago College All-Star Game|College All-Star Game]] against the [[1964 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] in August 1964 and was named the [[most valuable player]] of the game.<ref name="brftew">{{Cite news |last=Lea |first=Bud |author-link=Bud Lea |date=August 8, 1964 |title=Bears rally for 28-17 win |page=2, part 2 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cuoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6xAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7094%2C1003136 |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312144947/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cuoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6xAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7094%2C1003136 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="mtrastr">{{Cite news |last=McHugh |first=Roy |date=August 8, 1964 |title=Mira, Taylor real all-stars, Bears find |page=6 |work=Pittsburgh Press|via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I0cqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BU8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3735%2C2093538}}</ref><ref name="cdastrs">{{Cite news |date=August 8, 1964 |title=Chicago dumps All-Stars, 28-17 |page=1B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press|via=Google News |location=Oregon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IP1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5681%2C1308393}}</ref><ref name=college>{{cite web | work=College Football History | url=http://www.collegefootballhistory.com/sun_devils/history.htm | title=Arizona State Sun Devils - History | access-date=June 20, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318052520/http://collegefootballhistory.com/sun_devils/history.htm | archive-date=March 18, 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref>  In his three seasons at ASU, Taylor gained 1,995 [[yards from scrimmage]] and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, while also scoring 25 [[touchdown]]s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Report: ASU football legend, Hall of Fame WR Charley Taylor dies at 80|date=February 19, 2022|website=ArizonaSports.com|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3037860/asu-football-legend-hall-of-fame-wr-charley-taylor-dies-at-80/|access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref>

Taylor also [[Pitcher|pitched]] and played [[Third baseman|third base]] for the [[Arizona State Sun Devils baseball|Sun Devils baseball]] team.  However, during baseball practice, he was hit on a knee by a line drive, which ended his baseball career.<ref name=janis />

Taylor was inducted into the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1975.<ref name=college />

==Professional career==
Taylor was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] as the third overall pick of the [[1964 NFL draft]].<ref name=profootballhof /> He was also selected in the [[1964 American Football League draft|AFL draft]], taken ninth by the [[1964 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]].<ref>{{Cite pro-football-reference|name=Charley Taylor|id=T/TaylCh00|accessdate=February 22, 2022}}</ref> Taylor signed with Washington and won the [[UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year|UPI rookie of the year]] award as a [[running back]],<ref name="rags">{{Cite news |last=Ragsdale |first=W.B. Jr. |date=December 10, 1964 |title=Redskins' Charley Taylor selected 'rookie of year' |page=5 |work=Gettysburg Times|via=Google News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QCEmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CP4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2400%2C1840841}}</ref> and became the first NFL rookie in 20 years to finish in the top 10 in the league in both rushing (sixth with 755 yards) and receiving (eighth, 53 [[reception (gridiron football)|receptions]] for 814 yards).<ref name=profootballhof />  The 53 catches were a then-record for running backs.<ref name=profootballhof />

Although known as a successful running back, Taylor was switched to [[wide receiver]] in [[1966 Washington Redskins season|1966]] and led the NFL in receiving in both 1966 and [[1967 Washington Redskins season|1967]].<ref name=profootballhof />  He played that position for the rest of his career and had a record-tying seven seasons with 50 or more receptions.<ref name=profootballhof /> In [[1972 Washington Redskins season|1972]], he scored two touchdowns in Washington's win over the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[National Football Conference Championship Game]],<ref name=traub_02202022/> advancing them to their first [[Super Bowl]].<ref name=shapiro_02242022>{{cite news|first=Leonard|last=Shapiro|title=Extraordinarily gifted and terribly modest, Charley Taylor made a difference in Washington|date=February 24, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/20/charley-taylor-appreciation/|access-date=February 24, 2022}}</ref> They lost in [[Super Bowl VII]] to the undefeated [[Miami Dolphins]].<ref name=shapiro_02242022/> In the season finale in [[1975 Washington Redskins season|1975]], Taylor passed [[Don Maynard]] and became the NFL's all-time receptions leader with his 634th career catch on December 21 against the [[1975 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref name="totredsk">{{Cite news |last=Seppy |first=Tom |date=December 22, 1975 |title=Turnovers topple Redskins |page=10 |work=Free Lance-Star |agency=Associated Press |location=Fredericksburg, Virginia|via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fvZNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GYsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=928%2C1190991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | work=Washington Redskins | url=http://www.redskins.com/team/history-history.jsp#1970 | title=Washington Redskins: 1970s | access-date=June 20, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080613202828/http://www.redskins.com/team/history-history.jsp#1970 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 13, 2008}}</ref> Following Maynard's retirement in 1973, Taylor was the league's active leader in receiving yards for four seasons. He began 1974 with 7,470 yards, then 11th all-time,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_yds_career_1973.htm |title=NFL Career Receiving Yards Leaders Through 1973 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> and climbed up to 4th.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_yds_career_1977.htm |title=NFL Career Receiving Yards Leaders Through 1977 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=February 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Taylor retired following the 1977 season as the NFL's all-time leading receiver with 649 receptions,<ref name="sctrht">{{Cite news |date=June 2, 1978 |title=Charley Taylor retires |page=2F |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press|via=Google News |location=Florida |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wr0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4507%2C834372}}</ref> for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns.<ref name=profootballhof />  His career receptions record stood until 1984, when he was passed by [[Charlie Joiner]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Don|last=Norcross|title=Not As Planned|date=November 26, 1984|newspaper=Escondido Times-Advocate|page=C-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92556332/|access-date=January 14, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> As of the [[NFL 2024 season]] Taylor's 79 receiving touchdowns was still the franchise record. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/career-receiving.htm| title=Washington Commanders Career Receiving Leaders | access-date=January 11, 2025 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241204044428/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/career-receiving.htm|archive-date = December 4, 2024}}</ref> With 1,488 yards rushing and some kick return yardage, Taylor totaled 10,803 combined net yards.  Along with his 11 touchdowns rushing, Taylor scored 540 points in his career.<ref name=profootballhof />  He was named first- or second-team [[All-Pro]] six times and was selected to eight [[Pro Bowl]]s.<ref name=profootballhof />

Taylor was named to the [[National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team|NFL 1960s All-Decade Team]].<ref name=traub_02202022>{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Traub|title=Charley Taylor, Running Back Turned Hall of Fame Receiver, Dies at 80|date=February 20, 2022|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/20/sports/football/charley-taylor-dead.html|access-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1984,<ref name=profootballhof/> and was selected as one of the [[70 Greatest Redskins]] of all time.<ref>{{cite web | work=Washington Redskins | url=http://www.redskins.com/team/history-70.jsp | title=History: 70 Greatest Redskins | access-date=June 20, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080531062153/http://www.redskins.com/team/history-70.jsp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 31, 2008}}</ref> In 1999, he was ranked number 85 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''{{'}} list of its 100 greatest football players.<ref>{{cite web | work=The Sporting News | url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/ | title=Football's 100 Greatest Players | access-date=June 19, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601193351/http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/ | archive-date=June 1, 2008 }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
After retiring, Taylor was hired to work in the Redskins' front office with [[Bobby Mitchell]] as a scout.<ref name=janis />  He became their receivers coach in [[1981 Washington Redskins season|1981]], when [[Joe Gibbs]] became the [[head coach]].<ref name=janis />  He served on the coaching staff through [[1993 Washington Redskins season|1993]] under [[Richie Petitbon]], but was not retained by new head coach [[Norv Turner]] in March 1994, ending three decades with the franchise.<ref name=janis/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/02/sports/sports-people-football-redskins-fire-charley-taylor.html |newspaper=New York Times |agency=Associated Press |title=Redskins fire Charley Taylor |access-date=March 10, 2016 |date=March 2, 1994}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Taylor and his wife Patricia married in 1965. The Taylors lived in Reston, Virginia. They had three children, Elizabeth, Erica, and Charles Jr., and three grandchildren, Robyn, Jordyn, and Nathan.<ref name=janis /> He did speaking engagements and served as a consultant to the Commanders.<ref name=janis />

Taylor died on February 19, 2022, in [[Northern Virginia]], at the age of 80.<ref name=schudel_02192022/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alper |first1=Josh |title=Charley Taylor dies at 80 |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/19/charley-taylor-dies-at-80/amp/ |website=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date=February 19, 2022 |publisher=NBC Universal |access-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-date=February 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220000229/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/02/19/charley-taylor-dies-at-80/amp/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Rushing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD  
|-
! [[1964 NFL season|1964]]!! [[1964 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 53 || 814 || 15.4 || 80 || 5 || '''199''' || '''755''' || 3.8 || '''50''' || '''5''' 
|-
! [[1965 NFL season|1965]]!! [[1965 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 13 || 13 || 40 || 577 || 14.4 || 69 || 3 || 145 || 402 || 2.8 || 39 || 3  
|-
! [[1966 NFL season|1966]]!! [[1966 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''72''' || '''1,119''' || '''15.5''' || 86 || '''12''' || 87 || 262 || 3.0 || 24 || 3 
|-
! [[1967 NFL season|1967]]!! [[1967 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 12 || 12 || style="background:#cfecec;"|70 || 990 || 14.1 || 86 || 9 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
! [[1968 NFL season|1968]]!! [[1968 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || 11 || 48 || 650 || 13.5 || 47 || 5 || 2 || –3 || –1.5 || 4 || 0 
|- 
! [[1969 NFL season|1969]]!! [[1969 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 71 || 883 || 12.4 || '''88''' || 8 || 3 || 24 || 8.0 || 18 || 0
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]]!! [[1970 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 10 || 10 || 42 || 593 || 14.1 || 41 || 8 || 1 || 17 || '''17.0''' || 17 || 0
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]]!! [[1971 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 6 || 6 || 24 || 370 || 15.4 || 71 || 4 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]]!! [[1972 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 49 || 673 || 13.7 || 70 || 7 || 3 || 39 || 13.0 || 17 || 0
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]]!! [[1973 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 59 || 801 || 13.6 || 53 || 7 || 1 || –7 || –7.0 || –7 || 0
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]]!! [[1974 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 54 || 738 || 13.7 || 51 || 5 || 1 || –1 || –1.0 || –1 || 0
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]]!! [[1975 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 53 || 744 || 14.0 || 64 || 6 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]]!! [[1976 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| colspan="12"|''Missed season due to knee injury''
|- 
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]]!! [[1977 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 12 || 7 || 14 || 158 || 11.3 || 19 || 0 || – || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylCh00.htm Career] || 165 || 157 || 649 || 9,110 || 14.0 || 88 || 79 || 442 || 1,488 || 3.4 || 50 || 11 
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [https://www.profootballhof.com/players/charley-taylor/ Charley Taylor] at the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150910073202/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=210 Archived profile]
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Charley-Taylor|pfr=TaylCh00 |dbf=TAYLOCHA02}}

{{Washington Commanders}}
{{RedskinsFirstPick}}
{{Redskins1964DraftPicks}}
{{Houston Oilers 1964 draft navbox}}
{{1964 NFL Draft}}
{{NFL receptions leaders}}
{{Super Bowl XVII}}
{{Super Bowl XXII}}
{{Super Bowl XXVI}}
{{NFL1960s}}
{{1984 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Washington Commanders greatest players}}
{{Washington Commanders Ring of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Charley}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:African-American coaches of American football]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Grand Prairie High School alumni]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Grand Prairie, Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Ellis County, Texas]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Tarrant County, Texas]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins coaches]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins scouts]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils baseball players]]