The University of Akron Athletics
Jason Taylor to be Inducted to the 2026 MAC Hall of Fame
March 13 | Football
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Former University of Akron All-American and NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end, Jason Taylor, will be inducted to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 30, the league announced on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Taylor is one of six inductees to the 2026 MAC Hall of Fame Class, joining Tom Borelli (Central Michigan - Wrestling), Dave Jamerson (Ohio - Men's Basketball), Rhonda King-Randolph (Toledo - Softball), Bill Richards (Ball State - Men's Tennis) and Jim Streeter (Eastern Michigan - Sports Information Director).
Jason Taylor • Akron Football Player (1993-96)
Taylor was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Akron football program (1993-1996). Taylor recorded 279 tackles, 21 sacks, seven fumbles recoveries, and three interceptions in his collegiate career. Taylor is Akron's all-time career leader in sacks (21) and stands second on the Zips' charts for career tackles for loss (41.0) and sacks in a season (10).
Taylor was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection as a junior and senior (1995, 1996) as well as an All-America Honorable Mention selection his junior season (1995). As a junior, he played linebacker and moved to left defensive end as a senior. In 1996, he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Virginia Tech when he posted 12 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three stops for loss and tackled a punt returner in the end zone for a safety. In addition, he was awarded the team's Harry "Doc" Smith Award and the Akron Touchdown Club trophy as the outstanding lineman (1996). Taylor was inducted into Akron's Ring of Honor in 2004 and the UA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Following his success at Akron, Taylor was one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for 15 seasons. Drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins in 1997, he played 13 seasons with Miami, and one season each with the Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time 1st or 2nd team All-Pro, Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, and also named the Walter Peyton Man of the Year in 2007.
Taylor is the NFL all-time leader in fumble return touchdowns (6), while his 246 fumble return yards ranks fourth in NFL history and seventh in all-time career sacks (139.5). Taylor scored nine defensive touchdowns in his career and is first for touchdowns scored by a defensive linemen.
The Class of 2017 Taylor was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Taylor was one of seven inductees named to the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, joining kicker Morten Andersen, running back Terrell Davis, safety Kenny Easley, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Kurt Warner, and Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones.
The 2026 MAC Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Thursday, May 30 at Hotel Cleveland. Ticket information for the 2026 MAC honors dinner and Hall of Fame celebration will be announced at later date.
About the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 136 individuals from 20 classes.
Taylor is one of six inductees to the 2026 MAC Hall of Fame Class, joining Tom Borelli (Central Michigan - Wrestling), Dave Jamerson (Ohio - Men's Basketball), Rhonda King-Randolph (Toledo - Softball), Bill Richards (Ball State - Men's Tennis) and Jim Streeter (Eastern Michigan - Sports Information Director).
Jason Taylor • Akron Football Player (1993-96)
Taylor was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Akron football program (1993-1996). Taylor recorded 279 tackles, 21 sacks, seven fumbles recoveries, and three interceptions in his collegiate career. Taylor is Akron's all-time career leader in sacks (21) and stands second on the Zips' charts for career tackles for loss (41.0) and sacks in a season (10).
Taylor was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection as a junior and senior (1995, 1996) as well as an All-America Honorable Mention selection his junior season (1995). As a junior, he played linebacker and moved to left defensive end as a senior. In 1996, he earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Virginia Tech when he posted 12 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three stops for loss and tackled a punt returner in the end zone for a safety. In addition, he was awarded the team's Harry "Doc" Smith Award and the Akron Touchdown Club trophy as the outstanding lineman (1996). Taylor was inducted into Akron's Ring of Honor in 2004 and the UA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Following his success at Akron, Taylor was one of the NFL's top pass-rushers for 15 seasons. Drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins in 1997, he played 13 seasons with Miami, and one season each with the Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time 1st or 2nd team All-Pro, Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, and also named the Walter Peyton Man of the Year in 2007.
Taylor is the NFL all-time leader in fumble return touchdowns (6), while his 246 fumble return yards ranks fourth in NFL history and seventh in all-time career sacks (139.5). Taylor scored nine defensive touchdowns in his career and is first for touchdowns scored by a defensive linemen.
The Class of 2017 Taylor was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Taylor was one of seven inductees named to the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, joining kicker Morten Andersen, running back Terrell Davis, safety Kenny Easley, running back LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Kurt Warner, and Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones.
The 2026 MAC Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Thursday, May 30 at Hotel Cleveland. Ticket information for the 2026 MAC honors dinner and Hall of Fame celebration will be announced at later date.
About the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame
The MAC Hall of Fame was approved by the MAC Council of Presidents in 1987. The charter class was inducted in 1988 and subsequent classes were added in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. After six induction classes, the MAC Hall of Fame maintained 52 members until it was reinstated in May of 2012. This year's class brings the number of MAC Hall of Fame inductees to 136 individuals from 20 classes.
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