Following an auspicious beginning that included an unsuccessful walk-on attempt at Johnson C. Smith University, John Taylor would go on to blossom into one of the NFL’s most durable and consistent wide receivers and punt returners. Upon transferring to Delaware State University, Taylor set multiple Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) records, including most career and single-season touchdowns, most career points, most receiving yards in one game, and was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in 1985 and All-MEAC first-team in 1984 and 1985. Selected in the third round (76th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Taylor quickly became one of the 49ers most dynamic offensive weapons, partnering with fellow receiver Jerry Rice as the team’s dynamic duo. He spent ten seasons in the NFL (1986-1995) – all with the 49ers – and collected 347 receptions for 5,598 yards, including 43 touchdowns in 121 regular season games. Additionally, Taylor made 149 punt returns – tops in 49ers franchise history – for 1,517 yards – second in franchise history – with two touchdowns. His 95-yard punt return in 1998 remains the longest in 49ers history. Taylor made his biggest mark offensively when it mattered the most – in the postseason. A member of three Super Bowl Champion 49ers teams (XXIII, XXIV and XXIX), he appeared in 17 postseason games and added 46 receptions for 734 yards and six touchdowns – none bigger than his game-winning touchdown reception from Joe Montana during the final seconds of Super Bowl XXIII in 1989. Taylor also set Super Bowl records in that game for the most punt return yards (56) and highest punt return average (18.7 yards per return). The two-time 1,000-plus yard receiver also notched an NFL first with touchdowns on two receptions of over 90 yards (92 and 96) in December 1989 against the Los Angeles Rams. The two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection (1988 and 1989) was named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team as a punt returner. He was inducted in the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame in 2021.