# Darrell Taylor

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**Darrell Lamond Taylor** (born March 24, 1997) is an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [defensive end](/source/Defensive_end). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Tennessee Volunteers](/source/Tennessee_Volunteers_football).

## Early life

Taylor grew up in [Hopewell, Virginia](/source/Hopewell,_Virginia) and attended [Hopewell High School](/source/Hopewell_High_School_(Virginia)), where he played [football](/source/High_school_football).[1] Rated a four-star recruit, Taylor committed to play [college football](/source/College_football) at the [University of Tennessee](/source/University_of_Tennessee) over offers from [Florida](/source/Florida_Gators_football) and [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech_Hokies_football).[2]

## College career

Taylor played at the University of Tennessee from 2015–2019 under coaches [Butch Jones](/source/Butch_Jones) and [Jeremy Pruitt](/source/Jeremy_Pruitt).[3][4] Taylor [redshirted](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)) his true freshman season.[5] As a redshirt freshman, he made nine tackles (one for loss) in eight games played.[6] Taylor missed two games of his redshirt sophomore year due to a suspension for an altercation with a teammate.[7][8] He finished the season with 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles.[9] As a redshirt junior, Taylor led the team with eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss with 36 total tackles.[10]

Taylor entered his redshirt senior year on the [Chuck Bednarik Award](/source/Chuck_Bednarik_Award) watchlist.[11] Taylor finished the season tied for second in the [Southeastern Conference](/source/Southeastern_Conference) with 8.5 sacks and led the Volunteers with 10 tackles for loss along with 46 total tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four passes defended.[12] Taylor finished his collegiate career with 118 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, and 19.5 sacks with six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and seven passes defended in 38 games.[13]

## Professional career

### Seattle Seahawks

Taylor was invited to the [NFL Scouting Combine](/source/NFL_Scouting_Combine), but did not participate in any drills due to an offseason surgery.[14] Taylor was selected by the [Seattle Seahawks](/source/Seattle_Seahawks) in the second round with the 48th pick in the [2020 NFL draft](/source/2020_NFL_draft).[15] He was placed on the active/[non-football injury list](/source/Non-football_injury_list) at the start of [training camp](/source/Training_camp) on August 3, 2020.[16] He was moved to the reserve/non-football injury list at the start of the regular season on September 5, 2020.[17] He returned to practice on January 5, 2021, but the team did not activate him before the end of the season.[18]

On October 17, 2021, in a [*Sunday Night Football*](/source/NBC_Sunday_Night_Football) game against the [Pittsburgh Steelers](/source/Pittsburgh_Steelers), Taylor suffered what appeared to be a serious neck/head injury, and left the field injured on a stretcher under medical care.[19] After the game, the Seahawks confirmed that Taylor had feeling in all of his extremities and that he was expected to fly back to [Seattle](/source/Seattle) with the rest of his team.[20] He appeared in 16 games, of which he started five. He finished with 6.5 sacks, 37 total tackles (28 solo), one pass defensed, and one forced fumble.[21]

In the 2022 season, Taylor appeared in 16 regular season games and started three. He had 9.5 sacks, 26 total tackles (22 solo), one pass defended, and four forced fumbles.[22] In the 2023 season, Taylor appeared in all 17 regular season games and started five. He had 5.5 sacks, 28 total tackles (17 solo), and one pass defended.[23]

### Chicago Bears

On August 23, 2024, Taylor was traded to the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) in exchange for 2025 sixth-round pick.[24] In his first game as a Bear in Week 1 against the [Tennessee Titans](/source/2024_Tennessee_Titans_season), Taylor had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Bears 24–17 comeback win.[25]

### Houston Texans

On March 14, 2025, Taylor signed with the [Houston Texans](/source/Houston_Texans).[26] He was placed on injured reserve on November 5 due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 9 against the [Denver Broncos](/source/2025_Denver_Broncos_season).[27] He was activated on January 6, 2026,[28] but was released six days later.[29]

### New England Patriots

On January 14, 2026, Taylor was signed to the [New England Patriots](/source/New_England_Patriots)' practice squad.[30] He was released on January 23.[31]

## NFL career statistics

Legend Bold Career high

### Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast TfL Sck Sfty Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF FR Yds TD 2021 SEA 16 5 37 28 9 7 6.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2022 SEA 16 3 26 22 4 8 9.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 4 1 21 0 2023 SEA 17 5 28 17 11 7 5.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2024 CHI 11 0 20 14 6 2 2.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Career 60 13 111 81 30 24 23.5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 4 6 1 21 0

## References

1. Milby, Jeff (July 28, 2020). ["Hopewell alum Taylor signs $6.7 million deal with Seahawks"](https://www.progress-index.com/story/sports/2020/07/28/hopewell-alum-taylor-signs-67-million-deal-with-seahawks/41946975/). *The Progress Index*. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

1. Kolenich, Eric (September 26, 2014). ["Hopewell's Darrell Taylor commits to Tennessee"](https://www.richmond.com/sports/high-school/hopewell-s-darrell-taylor-commits-to-tennessee/article_efd6ef7c-46eb-5b5a-bf3b-18401ce67880.html). *[Richmond Times-Dispatch](/source/Richmond_Times-Dispatch)*. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. ["Darrell Taylor College Stats"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/darrell-taylor-1.html). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

1. ["Tennessee Volunteers Coaches"](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tennessee/). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

1. Moore, Lauren (August 2, 2017). ["Darrell Taylor bringing passion, energy to Vols"](https://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/darrell-taylor-bringing-passion-energy-to-vols/article_3db15779-7993-5b29-8e77-83ed4390b71a.html). *The Daily Times*. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

1. Brown, Patrick (March 29, 2019). ["Darrell Taylor 'determined' to deliver in increased role for Vols"](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/college/story/2017/mar/29/darrell-taylor-determined-deliver-increased-r/420092/). *[Chattanooga Times Free Press](/source/Chattanooga_Times_Free_Press)*. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. Megargee, Steve (October 12, 2017). ["Tennessee suspends outside linebacker Darrell Taylor ahead of Gamecocks game"](https://abcnews4.com/sports/college-football/tennessee-suspends-defensive-end-darrell-taylor-ahead-of-gamecocks-game). *[ABC4News.com](/source/WCIV)*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. Taylor, John (October 28, 2017). ["Tennessee's Darrell Taylor returning from suspension for Kentucky game"](https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/10/28/tennessees-darrell-taylor-returning-from-suspension-for-kentucky-game/). *CollegeFootballTalk*. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

1. Toppenmeyer, Blake (July 25, 2018). ["Why Darrell Taylor matters to UT Vols defense"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191209190428/https://sports.usatoday.com/2018/07/25/why-darrell-taylor-matters-to-ut-vols-defense/). *[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)*. Archived from [the original](https://sports.usatoday.com/2018/07/25/why-darrell-taylor-matters-to-ut-vols-defense/) on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. Megargee, Steve (August 21, 2019). ["Tennessee pass rush relying heavily on Darrell Taylor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191209190415/https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-pass-rush-relying-heavily-darrell-taylor-185824306--ncaaf.html). *[Yahoo Sports](/source/Yahoo_Sports)*. Associated Press. Archived from [the original](https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-pass-rush-relying-heavily-darrell-taylor-185824306--ncaaf.html) on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. Lambert, Terry A. (July 15, 2019). ["Jarrett Guarantano, Darrell Taylor added to 2019 award watchlists"](https://www.rockytoptalk.com/2019/7/15/20693677/tennessee-vols-football-jarrett-guarantano-darrell-taylor-added-to-2019-award-watchlists). *RockyTopTalk.com*. [SB Nation](/source/SB_Nation). Retrieved December 9, 2019.

1. Brown, Patrick (January 17, 2020). ["Stat Pack: Where Vols finished in national and SEC stat rankings"](https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/LongFormArticle/2019-Tennessee-Vols-football-stats-rankings-SEC-NCAA-college-football-142300769/#142300769_2). *247Sports.com*

1. Lee, Nick (February 27, 2020). ["Seahawks NFL Draft Profile: Darrell Taylor"](https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/gm-report/seahawks-nfl-draft-profile-darrell-taylor). *[SI.com](/source/Sports_Illustrated)*. Retrieved April 8, 2020.

1. Fann, Joe (April 24, 2020). ["Seahawks 2nd round pick Darrell Taylor wants to be NFL's best rookie pass rusher in 2020"](https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-2nd-round-pick-darrell-taylor-wants-be-nfls-best-rookie-pass-rusher-2020). *[NBC Sports Northwest](/source/NBC_Sports_Northwest)*. Retrieved April 24, 2020.[dead link]

1. Fann, Joe (April 24, 2020). ["Seahawks select Tennessee DE Darrell Taylor with 48th overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft"](https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/seattle-seahawks/seahawks-select-tennessee-de-darrell-taylor-48th-overall-pick-2020-nfl-draft). *[NBC Sports](/source/NBC_Sports)*. Retrieved April 24, 2020.[dead link]

1. Boyle, John (August 3, 2020). ["Seahawks TE Will Dissly Passes Physical; RB Rashaad Penny Opens Camp On PUP List"](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-te-will-dissly-passes-physical-rb-rashaad-penny-opens-camp-on-pup-list). *Seahawks.com*. Retrieved August 3, 2020.

1. Boyle, John (September 5, 2020). ["Seahawks Make Roster Moves To Establish Initial 53-Man Roster"](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-to-establish-initial-53-man-roster). *Seahawks.com*. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

1. Loohuis, Patrick Olde (January 5, 2021). ["Rookie DE Darrell Taylor returns to team practice from NFI list"](https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2021/01/06/rookie-de-darrell-taylor-returns-to-team-practice-from-nfi-list/). *USAToday.com*. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

1. Henderson, Brady (October 18, 2021). ["Seahawks pass-rusher Taylor stretchered off field"](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32421353/seattle-seahawks-darrell-taylor-stretchered-field). *ESPN.com*. Retrieved October 18, 2021.

1. ["Seahawks LB Darrell Taylor leaves on stretcher with injury"](https://nypost.com/2021/10/18/seahawks-lb-darrell-taylor-leaves-on-stretcher-with-injury/). *New York Post*. Associated Press. October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.

1. ["Darrell Taylor 2021 Game Log"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylDa00.htm). *[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference)*. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

1. ["Darrell Taylor 2022 Game Log"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylDa00/gamelog/2022/). *[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference)*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. ["Darrell Taylor 2023 Game Log"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylDa00/gamelog/2023/). *[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference)*. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

1. Boyle, John (August 23, 2024). ["Seahawks Trade Outside Linebacker Darrell Taylor To Bears"](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-trade-outside-linebacker-darrell-taylor-to-bears). *Seahawks.com*. Retrieved August 23, 2024.

1. ["Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears - September 8th, 2024"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202409080chi.htm). *[Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference)*. Retrieved 2024-09-12.

1. ["Houston Texans Transactions (3-14-2025)"](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-3-14-2025). *HoustonTexans.com*. March 14, 2025.

1. Wilson, Aaron (November 5, 2025). ["Texans’ injuries take a toll, Jaylin Smith, Darrell Taylor to IR, Alijah Huzzie activated, Matthew Wright signed"](https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/11/05/texans-injuries-take-a-toll-jaylin-smith-darrell-taylor-to-ir-alijah-huzzie-activated-matthew-wright-signed/). *click2houston.com*. Retrieved December 9, 2025.

1. ["Houston Texans Transactions (1-6-2026)"](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-1-6-2026). *HoustonTexans.com*. Retrieved January 14, 2026.

1. ["Houston Texans Transactions (1-12-2026)"](https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-1-12-2026). *HoustonTexans.com*. Retrieved January 14, 2026.

1. ["Patriots Sign DE Darrell Taylor to the Practice Squad; Release RB Elijah Mitchell from the Practice Squad"](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-de-darrell-taylor-to-the-practice-squad-release-rb-elijah-mitchell-from-the-practice-squad). *Patriots.com*. January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 14, 2026.

1. ["Patriots Release DE Darrell Taylor from the Practice Squad"](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-de-darrell-taylor-from-the-practice-squad). *Patriots.com*. January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 23, 2026.

## External links

- [Tennessee Volunteers bio](https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/darrell-taylor/10248)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Darrell Taylor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Taylor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Taylor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.