Age: 27 (Sept. 20)
5th season in pro football & with Packers
College: LSU
Height: 6’0” Weight: 215
Prelude:
Chosen by the Packers in the 2nd round of the 1958 NFL draft, Taylor saw scant action in his rookie season. With the coming of Vince Lombardi as head coach in ’59, he moved into the starting lineup, although burns suffered in a kitchen grease fire caused him to miss action. He broke out in 1960, gaining 1101 yards on a league-leading 230 carries, and rushed for 1307 yards and a NFL-leading 15 rushing TDs in ’61. A physically-punishing runner, Taylor provided the power for Green Bay’s offense and was selected to the Pro Bowl following the ’60 and ’61 seasons.
1962 Season Summary
Appeared in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 272 [1]
Most attempts, game - 25 (for 124 yds.) at Chicago 11/4, (for 141 yds.) at Philadelphia 11/11
Yards – 1474 [1]
Most yards, game – 164 yards (on 17 carries) at Minnesota 10/14
Average gain – 5.4 [2]
TDs – 19 [1]
100-yard rushing games - 7
Pass Receiving
Receptions – 22
Most receptions, game – 4 (for 40 yds.) vs. St. Louis 9/23
Yards – 106
Most yards, game - 40 (on 4 catches) vs. St. Louis 9/23
Average gain – 4.8
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 19 [1]
Points – 114 [1]
The 19 touchdowns set a then-NFL single-season record.
Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at NY Giants)
Rushing attempts – 31
Rushing yards – 85
Average gain rushing – 2.7
Rushing TDs – 1
Pass receptions – 3
Pass receiving yards - 20
Average yards per reception – 6.7
Pass Receiving TDs - 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: AP, NEA
1st team All-NFL: AP, NEA, UPI
1st team All-Western Conference: Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Packers went 13-1 to win Western Conference while leading league in rushing offense (2460 yards), scoring (415 points), and TDs (53). Won NFL Championship over New York Giants (16-7).
Aftermath:
Taylor had two more thousand-yard seasons, in 1963 and ’64, and was named to the Pro Bowl after each, to give him five straight. He began to show signs of wear in 1965, running for 734 yards and a 3.5-yard average, and following a 705-yard season in ’66, Taylor played out his option and signed with the expansion New Orleans Saints. He led the team in rushing, but with just 390 yards, and retired prior to the 1968 season with 8597 career yards (second highest in NFL history at the time). Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1976.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]
