Chester Taylor

This article is about the American football player. For the U.S. Representative from Arkansas, see Chester W. Taylor.

Chester Taylor

File:Brad Johnson handoff to Chester Taylor.jpg Taylor takes a handoff from Brad Johnson in 2006.
No. --     Free Agent
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1979-09-22) September 22, 1979
Place of birth: River Rouge, Michigan
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	Weight: 213 lb (97 kg)
Career information
College: Toledo
NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 6 / Pick: 207
Debuted in 2002 for the Baltimore Ravens
Career history
Baltimore Ravens ( 2002– 2005) Minnesota Vikings ( 2006– 2009) Chicago Bears ( 2010) Arizona Cardinals ( 2011)
Career highlights and awards
Hula Bowl North MVP (2002) 2007 Fedex Ground Player Of The Week (Week 11)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Rushing yards	4,740
Rushing average	4.1
Rushing TDs	26
Stats at NFL.com

Chester Lamar Taylor also known as Che Tay (born September 22, 1979) is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. In 2006, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings and played four seasons before signing with the Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of Toledo.

Early years

Taylor was a four-time all-state running back and sprinter at River Rouge High School before attending the University of Toledo. While at Toledo, Taylor set school records for rushing yards and touchdowns. In 2001, he led the Rockets to an impressive victory over in-state rival Cincinnati Bearcats in the Motor City Bowl, giving Toledo their first bowl win since the 1995 Las Vegas Bowl. He was named the MVP of the game with 31 (Motor City Bowl Record) carries for 190 yards (then a Motor City Bowl Record) and a touchdown.

Taylor ranked seventh in nation for the 2001 season with 1,492 rushing yards (268 attempts, 5.3 yards-per-carry) and 20 touchdowns. He also hauled in 26 receptions for 242 yards and three touchdowns, with a longest reception of 43 yards.

Taylor was named North Team MVP in the 2002 Hula Bowl.

College statistics

Year	Team	Att	Yds	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2000	Toledo Rockets	250	1470	18	17	129	1
2001	Toledo Rockets	268	1430	20	26	242	3

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

Taylor was taken with the 35th pick in the 6th round (207th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He spent four years backing up Jamal Lewis, seeing minimal yet increasing playing time throughout his tenure with the team. He also developed himself as a receiving threat, making him the Ravens third down back.

File:20090104 Chester Taylor.JPG

Taylor (29) lines up with the Vikings in January, 2009.

Minnesota Vikings

Taylor was signed by the Minnesota Vikings to a four-year, $14.1 million contract on March 12, 2006. On October 22, 2006, Taylor set a Vikings franchise record for longest run from scrimmage when he ran for a 95-yard touchdown in the third quarter, which is also an NFL record for the longest run in the 3rd quarter, against the Seattle Seahawks. He also broke 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his NFL career. Taylor and Adrian Peterson were considered one of the NFL's top running back tandems.

Chicago Bears

Taylor was signed by the Chicago Bears to a four-year, $12.5 million contract on March 5, 2010. In 2010, Taylor shared carries with running back Matt Forté. His stats fell compared to his times with the Ravens and Vikings and rushed for only 267 yards on 112 carries for a 2.4 yard average.

Taylor was released by Chicago during final cuts on September 3, 2011.

Arizona Cardinals

Taylor was claimed via waivers for a one year contract by the Arizona Cardinals on September 4, 2011.

See also

• List of Division I FBS rushing touchdown leaders

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Mewelde Moore	Minnesota Vikings Starting Running Backs 2006	Succeeded by Adrian Peterson