Taylor’s most memorable moment with the Bengals came during the franchise’s dramatic playoff run following the 2021 season. In the AFC Championship Game against Kansas City, he delivered a crucial two-point conversion on his first offensive snap of the postseason. The play tied the game at 21 in the third quarter and helped spark Cincinnati’s historic comeback, ultimately sending them to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. While the two-point try is not counted in official receiving statistics, it remains a defining moment of Taylor’s time with Cincinnati and a symbol of his willingness to step up in high-stakes moments.
Before joining Cincinnati, Taylor had already established himself as a reliable depth option. He signed with the Bengals in May 2021 after four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. At that point, Cincinnati boasted a strong group of receivers featuring Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, all led by quarterback Joe Burrow. Taylor’s role with the Bengals initially leaned toward special teams and situational offense, and he spent portions of his first season on the practice squad. His impact grew more in special teams than as a primary target in the passing game.
The 2021 AFC Championship performance, however, underscored Taylor’s value in pivotal moments. After Cincinnati trailed 21-19 in the third quarter, the Bengals faced a decision on a two-point conversion. They kept the offense on the field, and Taylor lined up in the end zone to complete a reception from Burrow that tied the game. Cincinnati eventually won 27-24 in overtime, completing an 18-point comeback and advancing to Super Bowl LVI. Although Taylor did not record a reception in the Super Bowl victory, his late-game conversion play became the most memorable highlight of his Bengals tenure.
In the subsequent season, Taylor’s role with the Bengals expanded into a more pronounced special-teams presence. He contributed as a returner, fielding 33 punts for 340 yards, averaging 10.3 yards per return. This continued to define his career as one of dependable versatility: a player who could be counted on to handle the granular, sometimes overlooked duties that influence field position and momentum.
Examining Taylor’s broader career reveals a player who carved out a niche through reliability and adaptability. He entered the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft with the San Francisco 49ers. Standing at 5-foot-8 and weighing around 180 pounds, he quickly established himself as a dependable slot receiver. His rookie season featured 43 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, marks that stood as career highs in receptions and yardage for a single season.
Injuries interrupted his time with the 49ers, including a foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2019 season. After his stint in San Francisco, Taylor continued his career by contributing primarily on special teams—with the Bengals and later the Chicago Bears—before eventually returning to the 49ers, where his retirement was later confirmed.
Across 80 regular-season games, Taylor accumulated 88 receptions for 845 yards and three touchdowns. He also made a significant impact on special teams, returning 112 punts for 1,051 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per return. His ability to impact games beyond the traditional receiving role helped him sustain a seven-year NFL career, a testament to his reliability and team-oriented approach.
Taylor’s retirement marks the end of a career defined by quiet consistency and crucial moments. He may not have been the leading target in any single season, but his trustworthiness as a slot option, punt returner, and special-teams contributor earned him a lasting place in the teams he served. In Cincinnati, his single, pivotal play became a landmark moment in the franchise’s most successful postseason run in decades, a reminder that some players profoundly influence a team’s trajectory even when their on-field contributions are not always in the spotlight.
As Taylor closes this chapter, the broader NFL landscape remembers players whose value lies in dependable execution, versatility, and the ability to rise to the moment when it matters most. Taylor’s career embodies that ethos, highlighting how a player can leave a lasting imprint through consistency, reliability, and the willingness to seize opportunities when called upon.
