“Be where your feet are. Don’t look ahead; don’t look behind. Keep moving and keep pushing through,” said LSU Tiger‘s tight end Mason Taylor. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Mason hails from Lauderdale, Florida, where he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. After being a standout player in high school, he committed to playing his collegiate career for LSU.

Given his dashing performance over the past few years at LSU, he’s expected to rock the 2024 season as well. Aside from that, let’s discover the individuals who served as his life’s pillars, imparting love and support that contributed to his current success. That being said, let’s learn about his parents.

Who is Mason Taylor’s father?

Jason Paul Taylor, Mason’s father, was born on September 1, 1974, and brought up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a former professional football player back in his day, he influenced Mason’s football career from a young age. During his reign, he was a dual-threat player who played as a defensive end and linebacker in the NFL. He got drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft and played for them most of his career.

Soon after starting in the NFL, he emerged as a crucial player who earned his first Pro Bowl selection during the 2000 season after recording 14.5 sacks. In 2002, he improved his skills with 18.5 sacks, led his team, and earned the title of NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In 2006, Jason achieved 13.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns, resulting in him being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second time. Throughout the 15 years of his NFL career, Jason Taylor played in 233 games for which he earned many awards and recognitions.

Taylor earned a spot in the Pro Bowl six times in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006. He earned the regarded first-team all-pro title on three occasions during his career. He achieved the honor of being named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in the 2007 season. In 2017, his hard work paid off by garnering a Pro Football Hall of Fame title. For a short period, he played for the New York Jets in 2010 and for the Washington Redskins in 2008. He announced his retirement from the NFL in 2011, but his status as one of the greatest defensive players in league history remains.

After retiring from the NFL, he started his coaching career by serving as the defensive ends coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2012. He joined ESPN and worked as an analyst. Besides his football career, his personal life has also made headlines for good and bad reasons. Taylor got married to Katina Thomas, who is the sister of Jason’s former teammate Zach Thomas. They married in 2001 and got separated in 2015. His high-profile divorce from Katina Taylor has marked Taylor’s personal life. The divorce involved a legal battle over spousal support and child support payments. Together, they have three kids named Isaiah, Mason, and Zoe. In 2020, he remarried Monica Taylor.

Who is Mason Taylor’s mother?

Mason Taylor’s mother, Katina Thomas, shares a strong bond with him and nurtures love and support for him through his journey. While Katina was still married to Mason’s dad, the couple co-founded the Jason Taylor Foundation, which focused on developing underprivileged children in South Florida. In 2006, Katina filed for divorce from Mason’s dad because of personal differences but withdrew it in a short time. Finally, in 2015, they quietly parted ways. After which Mason Taylor’s mother maintains a private life and is mostly seen indulging in her children’s lives.

Later, Katina Taylor sued Jason Taylor for $3.4 million, citing an unpaid lump-sum spousal support payment that Jason had promised but never delivered. Additionally, she receives $4,000 in child support. The couple had initially sought to keep their divorce proceedings private, but the financial disputes became public. Besides that, let us know in the comments which team you are rooting for in the 2024 season.