Washington commanders are finally working on repairing the statue dedicated to the late safety Sean Taylor.
Nearly two years after the team unveiled a wire memorial that disappointed many, commanders announced Saturday that they have removed the statue and are now working with Taylor's family to build a new one.
“I am excited to join the Washington Commanders in announcing our plans to unveil a statue in honor of my father,” Taylor’s daughter, Jackie Taylor, said in a statement. “I am grateful to Josh Harris and the Commanders family for their continued commitment to keeping my father’s legacy alive. I look forward to sharing plans in the future and learning more about my father through this process.”
“I am eternally grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this special fan base. I am filled with gratitude to know that my father will forever be a part of the burgundy and gold family.”
Taylor spent four seasons with the Commanders organization, who selected him fifth overall out of Miami in 2004. He was shot and killed during an attempted home invasion during the 2007 season. He was 24 at the time of his death.
In 2022, on the 15th anniversary of his death, the Commanders unveiled a memorial to him at their stadium — but it was nothing more than a wire frame with his jersey on it. There was also nothing really connecting Taylor to the installation, other than his jersey number, and it resembled a mannequin fans might find at a department store.
Naturally, it immediately received a lot of opposition from the fans.
The incident was one of several high-profile incidents that former owner Dan Snyder faced toward the end of his tenure with the franchise. Harris and an investment group bought the team from Snyder for more than $6 billion last summer.
While no details have yet been released about the new memorial or when it will officially open, the new ownership group is ready to find a new way to honor the team's former safety.
“After careful consideration, we as an organization have decided to remove the Sean Taylor installation from Commanders Field,” a Commanders spokesperson said. “We realize the installation falls short of honoring one of our franchise's most iconic players.
“Together with the Taylor family, we are working on a plan that will include the unveiling of a statue that will rightfully celebrate the legacy and impact Sean had on our organization, fan base and community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a first-class manner.”
