Charley Taylor

Taylor was born in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was the second of seven children, including four girls and three boys. 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. Taylor began playing sports in junior high school, and was playing football, baseball, basketball, and running in track by the eighth grade. He played high school football at Dalworth High School. 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. ==College career==

Taylor played college football at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe as a halfback and defensive back. He was selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference team as a halfback. In his three seasons at ASU, Taylor gained 1,995 yards from scrimmage and averaged 5.7 yards per carry, while also scoring 25 touchdowns. Taylor also pitched and played third base for the Sun Devils baseball team. However, during baseball practice, he was hit on a knee by a line drive, which ended his baseball career. Taylor was inducted into the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1975. ==Professional career==

Taylor was selected by the Washington Redskins as the third overall pick of the 1964 NFL draft. Taylor signed with Washington and won the UPI rookie of the year award as a running back, 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 receptions for 814 yards). They lost in Super Bowl VII to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. 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, and climbed up to 4th. Taylor retired following the 1977 season as the NFL's all-time leading receiver with 649 receptions, for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns. As of the NFL 2024 season Taylor's 79 receiving touchdowns was still the franchise record. 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. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984, In 1999, he was ranked number 85 on The Sporting News list of its 100 greatest football players. ==Coaching career==

After retiring, Taylor was hired to work in the Redskins' front office with Bobby Mitchell as a scout. ==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. ==NFL career statistics==