Cliff Taylor

Clifton Durett Taylor Jr. (May 10, 1952 – March 23, 2010) was an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Memphis State Tigers and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1974 NFL draft. He played one season for the Bears and later a season with the Green Bay Packers in 1976 before retiring.

Early life

Taylor was born on May 10, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee. His brother, Ed Taylor, also played in the NFL. In football, he played as a running back and was selected first-team all-state, All-Memphis and All-Mid-South as a senior after helping South Side to a 10–1–1 record and a second-place finish at the state championships. He gained over 100 yards in all but two games that season. Taylor also excelled in track, being one of the top sprinters in the Mid-South. He was a state champion in the 100- and 200-yard dash, setting a state record in the former with a time of 9.7 seconds. He missed the entirety of his freshman season due to a knee injury suffered in fall camp. He then played at fullback as a sophomore in 1971, helping Memphis State to the Pasadena Bowl and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) title while running 39 times for 117 yards and three touchdowns. He appeared in all 14 games for the Bears, serving as their kick returner while also seeing limited use as a running back. He then underwent foot surgery for a tendon issue and sat out the 1975 season. Taylor signed with the Green Bay Packers in April 1976. He retired from professional football in July 1977. In his career, he appeared in 21 games and ran 23 times for 63 yards, caught five passes for 44 yards and returned 30 kickoffs for 626 yards. Taylor was inducted into the Memphis M Club Hall of Fame in 1987. He was married and had two children. He died on March 23, 2010, at the age of 57.