Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Taylor played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a powerful and relentless runner, known for his punishing style of play and his ability to break tackles.
Taylor's breakout season came in 1962 when he rushed for 1,474 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the NFL in both categories. His performance that year earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, making him the only player to win the MVP other than Jim Brown from 1957 to 1965.
In addition to his individual accolades, Taylor was instrumental in the Packers' team success during the 1960s. He was a key part of the Packers' "run to daylight" strategy, where the offensive line would create a hole, or "daylight", for the running back to exploit. This strategy helped the Packers to win NFL championships in 1961, 1962, 1965, and 1966. In the 1962 NFL Championship Game, Taylor's hard-nosed running style was on full display as he rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in frigid conditions to help the Packers defeat the New York Giants.
Taylor's performance in the 1966 season helped the Packers reach Super Bowl I, where they faced the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor scored the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history, helping the Packers to a 35-10 victory.
After the 1966 season, Taylor left the Packers and joined the New Orleans Saints, where he played for one season before retiring. Over his ten-year NFL career, Taylor rushed for 8,597 yards and 83 touchdowns. He also had 225 receptions for 1,756 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Taylor's contributions to the game were recognized with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He was also named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, recognizing him as one of the best players of his era. Despite his tough, physical style of play, Taylor was known off the field for his humility and sportsmanship.
In summary, Jim Taylor was one of the most dominant fullbacks of his era, known for his punishing running style and his key role in the Green Bay Packers' success in the 1960s. His individual and team success, including an MVP award, four NFL championships, and a Super Bowl victory, cemented his place as one of the greats of the game.
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