Legendary Packers FB Jim Taylor passes away at 83

Former Green Bay Packers fullback and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Taylor passed away early Saturday morning according to Packers.com. He was 83 years old.

Taylor played college football at LSU where he led the SEC in scoring in 1956 and 1957. He was named All-SEC and All-America First Team in 1957 after he and future Heisman winner Billy Cannon posted over 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. In his career at LSU, Taylor recorded 1,314 rushing and 20 rushing touchdowns.

That led to Taylor being selected by the Packers in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft.

“My rookie year was the worst in Packer history,” Taylor told Packer Report in 2010. “After being drafted by Green Bay, I sat on the bench for the first 10 games of the 12-game season before getting any playing time. We finished with a record of 1-10-1 so it was an experience that put everything in perspective.”

One year later, Vince Lombardi took over as coach. Taylor started seven games.

“During training camp in ‘59, Lombardi liked the way I ran with the ball and made me his starting fullback,” Taylor continued. “I really tried to initiate the contact with the defender rather than absorb it. Because of that, I was able to carry the ball with some authority and avoid injuries. My main focus was on maximizing every opportunity and doing everything in my power to gain every inch, foot or yard possible to move the chains.

“Looking back, I had good speed, size and strength but only average ability. Throughout my career, I just attempted to make the most of each situation in order to become the best player possible. I guess you could say that my love for competition and desire to become the best player possible just fueled the fire within me.”

But it wasn't until 1960 when Taylor took off, rushing for 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 1962 season was Taylor's best as he rushed for 1,474 yards and 14 touchdowns. Taylor won the rushing title that season and was named MVP. He ended the season with a strong performance in the NFL Championship game against the New York Giants, posting 85 yards and one touchdown in the 16-7 victory.

“Looking back on that day, it was the type of game that I really enjoyed," he told Packer Report. "I had lots of carries, wouldn’t yield to anyone and refused to back down. From that perspective, it was one of the most memorable games of my career.”

Taylor was arguably the best running back in the league from 1960-1964. In that five-year span, he tallied 6,069 rushing yards, 824 receiving yards and 71 total touchdowns. Taylor was named to the All-Pro Team and the Pro Bowl each year and he helped the Packers win two championships. Taylor also made history by becoming the first player to record 1,000-yard seasons five consecutive times.

He helped the Packers win additional NFL titles in 1965 and 1966, but his numbers were not as strong. In those two seasons, Taylor averaged 720 rushing yards and four touchdowns, but he was still named to the All-Pro Second Team in 1966. Taylor's final game as a Packer was Super Bowl I and he scored the game's first touchdown. The Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10.

"We were excited about representing the National Football League, but we trained and practiced and prepared ourselves like we would for any big game," Taylor said to NFL.com back in 2016. "We also knew we were representing the NFL against a team that been in existence only four or five years, so we had a little bit of incentive."

Taylor was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the expansion draft and recorded 390 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 1967. He retired from NFL before the 1968 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He was the first of Vince Lombardi's players to be enshrined in Canton and was presented by Lombardi's wife, Marie.

“Jim Taylor lived life the same way he played football, with passion, determination and love for all he did," Hall of Fame President David Baker said. The entire Hall of Fame family mourns the loss of a true hero of the game and extends heartfelt condolences to his wife Helen during this difficult time. While Jim’s spirit forever resides at the Hall, we will miss his smile that would light up a room.

“The Pro Football Hall of Fame will keep Jim’s legacy alive so generations of fans will remember his rugged running style, ability to block, and leadership in Coach Vince Lombardi’s ‘run to daylight’ philosophy that made him the first from the Lombardi-era Packers to earn a place in Canton. Jim Taylor’s accomplishments on the football field and throughout his life represent values like commitment, teamwork, sacrifice, and passion that serve as inspiration to us all.”

Along with winning the MVP award, Taylor won four NFL titles and he was named 1960s All-Decade Team.

“That son-of-a-gun is the toughest son-of-a-gun in the league,” backfield mate Paul Hornung once said of Taylor via Cliff Christl of Packers.com. “I’ve seen him run over guys 30 or 40 pounds bigger than he is like that (snap of a finger). Jimmy Brown may be the best all-around athlete I’ve seen, but he doesn’t have Taylor’s desire.”

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