Taylor’s path to that moment began with the Jets in 2025, where he appeared sparingly and was a healthy scratch in several early games. He was released on October 14 and joined the Patriots’ practice squad two days later, a move that would eventually place him in the playoff mix.
Since joining New England, Taylor’s role grew as the team trusted him more as the postseason approached. He has been elevated to the active gameday roster six times this season, including the divisional round against Houston, where he earned field-goal blocking opportunities after a practice rep.
Taylor described the transition from a struggling Jets squad to a consistently winning Patriots club as surreal, noting that his hard work had finally gained recognition.
Jets fans were reminded of the franchise’s quarterback-development challenges as Sam Darnold, the former Jets draft pick now with the Seattle Seahawks, advanced toward the big game, highlighting contrasting career trajectories between the two teams.
With New England headed to its 10th Super Bowl appearance this century, the weekend underscored the ongoing dynamic between the longtime rivals—one finding success with a former Jets player, the other continuing to recalibrate its development and coaching strategy ahead of 2026.
