Roosevelt Taylor

Roosevelt "Rosey" Taylor (July 4, 1937 – May 29, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a safety for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Grambling Tigers. Part of Grambling's initial SWAC championship defense in 1960 – the group included four future All-Pros – Taylor went on to lead the NFL with nine interceptions in 1963, on the way to 32 career picks.

Early life and college Taylor was born on July 4, 1937, in Eudora, Arkansas to William and Savannah Taylor. He moved to New Orleans when he was four. He was raised in the Lower Ninth Ward, attending McCarthy Elementary School and Joseph S. Clark High School (now defunct), where he played three sports: basketball, football and track; excelling most in basketball. In 1956, he was named a city All-Star in basketball by the Crescent City Coaches Association. While he had great leaping ability, and basketball was his best high school sport, he would be cut twice trying out for his college team; though that leaping ability would become vital to his playing defensive back in football. He was an All-City football player at Clark. In 1962, the school presented him with an award for outstanding achievement in sports.

He went to Grambling State University, and was a football team walk-on before earning a scholarship, playing under coach Eddie Robinson. He worked a number of jobs to pay his tuition before that. He was a key part of Grambling’s 1960 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship team (its first), playing defense. included future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan, who was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, future All-AFL star Ernie Ladd, and future AFL All-Star Garland Boyette. On offense, as a sophomore, he had scoring runs of 87 and 75 yards.

Professional football career Taylor was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Bears in 1961. Bears defensive coach, and future Hall of fame head coach, George Allen went to Grambling in Louisiana to try (unsuccessfully) to sign Ernie Ladd. He learned of Taylor from Eddie Robinson when he asked Robinson about defensive backs, and Allen was able to sign Taylor as a free agent.

Taylor would go on to a 14-year NFL career with the Bears (1961-69), 49ers (1969-71) and Redskins (1972). were rookies together on the Bears. Taylor's son Brian played briefly for the Bears under coach Ditka in 1989. at strong safety). He led the Bears in interceptions with nine (returning one for a touchdown), and in kick return yardage (while also returning punts). He also had three fumble recoveries.

In 1963, Taylor was selected first team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl. George Allen was a defensive assistant coach with the 1963 team, becoming defensive coordinator of the 1964-1965 Bears. The defense also included future hall of fame defensive end Doug Adkins, who was selected to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team,

In 1964 he was selected first team All Conference by The Sporting News, and second team All Pro by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA); and in 1965, he was selected second team All Pro by the Associated Press (AP). In 1968, he scored on a 96-yard interception return against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for a second time that year. ).

He started 30 or 34 games played with the 49ers, and in 1970 won the team's Eshmont Award, given for inspirational and courageous play.

1972 was Taylor's final season in the NFL. He started 14 games for Washington, under his former Bears' defensive coach, George Allen, as part of the Over-the-Hill Gang. He started in Super Bowl VII, where Washington lost 14-7 to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. Washington's defense, however, held Miami hall of fame quarterback Bob Griese to 88 yards passing, and the Dolphins to 69 net passing yards.

Over his full career, Taylor had 32 interceptions, with 486 return yards, three interception touchdowns, and 13 fumble recoveries with one touchdown. Early in his Chicago career, he returned 15 punts (one for a touchdown) and 26 kickoffs. At the time of his death, he had been married nearly 60 years to his wife Claudia, and had three children and four grandchildren.