Linebacker Jason Taylor will play his last game in the NFL on Sunday when the Miami Dolphins close out their 2011 NFL season against the New York Jets at home. Taylor announced his retirement today, "After 15 years of doing this and 13 years in Miami this will be my last game as a Miami Dolphin as a professional football player." Taylor was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. During his time in the NFL, he was one of the NFL's best pass rushers racking up 139.5 career sacks heading into the final week of the 2011 season. Taylor currently rankes sixth all-time in sacks, just two sacks behind Michael Strahan for fifth overall.
Taylor was a six-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro selection, and two-time AFC defensive player of the year during his career. "This is the right time for me to go ahead and grow and allow this organization time to improve," Taylor told the media. "Sunday is my last game. I'm going to go ahead and walk away, hopefully healthy," Taylor continued. "If there's one regret that I have its that I didn't have a chance to bring a championship to Miami."
Taylor played most of his career with the Dolphins, but did have a short stint with the Washington Redskins when he was traded in 2008 for a second round and sixth round pick. Taylor was released after just one season and then signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to return. After the 2009 season, Taylor signed a contract with the New York Jets but was released after the season to return to the Dolphins once again for a third and final stint.
For more on the Jason Taylor retirement and the Miami Dolphins, visit SB Nation's Dolphins blog The Phinsider.