The Washington football team made an announcement Thursday that many fans felt was long overdue. The team will collect the no. 21 mesh.
Taylor’s number will be withdrawn as part of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs at FedEx Field, Washington announced on his official Twitter account.
There will never be another 21
We will officially withdraw Sean Taylor’s issue on Sunday
– Washington Soccer Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 14, 2021
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Taylor was the fifth pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and played 55 games for Washington. He scored 305 tackles, 12 interceptions, 43 defensive passes, eight forced fumbles and two sacks during his three-and-a-half season career. He has done the Pro Bowl in each of his last two seasons and is known for his huge success over Bills punter Brian Moorman in that contest.
Sadly, Taylor’s life and career were cut short, as he was murdered in November 2007 after thieves broke into his Miami home. He was shot in the leg during the robbery and his femoral artery was severed. He was just 24 years old.
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Taylor was on course to become one of the NFL’s top safeties. He had five interceptions in nine 2007 games at the time of his death. He was also a fan favorite, so it’s easy to see why Washington is withdrawing his number.
However, the team was targeted for the timing of the announcement. The NFL is currently embroiled in a scandal resulting from 650,000 emails generated by a Washington workplace culture investigation under owner Dan Snyder. The emails, most of which were correspondences with 10-year general manager / team president Bruce Allen, led to Jon Gruden’s departure from the Raiders and criticism for ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Many NFL personalities and members of the media took to Twitter and said the announcement seemed an attempt to distract from Washington’s involvement in that scandal. They also noted that Washington gave months ‘notice for Bobby Mitchell’s shirt retirement last year, giving only a few days’ notice of Taylor’s ceremony.
They didn’t pick it up on the 10th anniversary of his death in 2017.
This year they will not withdraw it on the anniversary of his death.
They are pulling it back, on 4 days’ notice, in the midst of an off-screen scandal.
Sean Taylor is the GOAT.
Don’t use it as a distraction. https://t.co/3kg4EbhEMy
– Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 14, 2021
They announced the retirement of Bobby Mitchell’s shirt in June for a ceremony in September.
They announced the retirement of Sean Taylor’s shirt last October. 14 for an Oct. 17th ceremony.
Forgive my skepticism.
– JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 14, 2021
Sean Taylor deserves this honor a thousand times over. Announcing this week-long Thursday that your organization’s impropriety is back in the news is at the BEST dull / unaware tone, and at the WORST gross use of a man’s legacy as a deodorant for the situation.
– Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) October 14, 2021
Sean Taylor is one of my all time favorite players. I know many who think alike. But the timing of this looks great. Honoring Taylor’s legacy doesn’t deserve to come up with a cloud of questions like it’s going to happen now
At best, not seeing him is sad
At worst, he was using it is sick https://t.co/gl9kPgvyIJ
– Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) October 14, 2021
Giving fans zero notice for the withdrawal of Sean Taylor’s number is both stupid and insulting.
– Burgundy blog (@BorgognaBlog) October 14, 2021
I think it’s clear that, like many other players of the past and countless countless fans, Sean Taylor deserved and deserves better than this organization.
– Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) October 14, 2021
and they’re stupid enough to think such a thing would work. the worst part, if they do it for cynical reasons, is that they will ruin what should be a great time for Taylor’s family and fans. https://t.co/Q9DGFeI9Ix
-bomani (@bomani_jones) October 14, 2021
You died the last one in the NFL in attendance.
You are starving for a good pub.
You have a great beloved franchise whose jersey is perhaps the most popular you have and is about to be retired.
And just give fans three days’ notice.
Incredible.#WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/XRm4qRpVNX
– Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) October 14, 2021
Sean Taylor’s number was unofficially withdrawn, so that’s a good thing, and I’m happy for all of Taylor’s friends and family that’s happening.
But the timing on this … I mean come on … https://t.co/qwm1rkWI03
– Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 14, 2021
Using Sean Taylor as a PR stunt and picking up his number on 3 days’ notice is all you need to know about how mean Dan Snyder can be. Really just a bad person through and through.
– Nate (@BarstoolNate) October 14, 2021
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Washington faced speculation shortly after their announcement and explained that the event had been in the works for weeks.
“We apologize to fans who would have liked more notice and will continue to share with fans how we will celebrate Sean Taylor’s legacy over the next month,” a team spokesperson said. Matteo Paras.
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