Jason Taylor Among Semifinalists For 2017 Hall Of Fame Class
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A pair of Miami Dolphins alumni are among the annual semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2017 induction class.
Former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor and former head coach Jimmy Johnson are among 26 semifinalists.
Another semifinalist with South Florida ties, former University of Miami running back Edgerrin James, is also still in the running.
Taylor is one of four players who are in their first year of eligibility for induction into the Hall of Fame.
The other three are LaDanian Tomlinson, Hines Ward and Brian Dawkins.
Taylor played 15 years in the NFL, 13 of which were with the Dolphins.
Miami selected Taylor in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
He has the sixth-most sacks in NFL history with 139.5 and is the NFL's all-time leader in fumble returns for touchdowns with six.
Taylor also leads all defensive lineman with nine total touchdowns scored.
A six-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All Pro, Taylor anchored a Dolphins defense that was one of the best in the league year in and year out.
He was twice named the AFC Defensive Player of the year and was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
In 2012 Taylor and former teammate Zach Thomas were inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll as the 23rd and 24th members.
Thomas and Taylor are also brothers-in-law and share the same birthday. Taylor married Thomas's sister Katina while the two were teammates.
The list will be trimmed down from 26 semifinalists to 15 finalists in January before the official induction class is announced the night before the Super Bowl.
