While the Kansas City Chiefs are celebrating and enjoying their time heading into the 2024 Super Bowl, one player is grieving the loss of his grandmother. Jawaan Taylor, one of the league’s premier offensive tackles, lost his pillar of strength. Hence, speaking at the Super Bowl media availability, he said, “I dedicate this game to her.” 

When the news initially broke out, there were reports that his mother Wendy Taylor passed away, but that was not true. The athlete took to social media to clarify the mistake made by the media. “Just to clear the air.. It’s my Grandmother that passed away 4 Days ago, NOT my mother. Long Live Mary Taylor,” he wrote on X. His mother, Wendy, also took to her Instagram account to clear the misunderstanding.

“I’m safe, I’m alive and I’m well. But unfortunately, we did suffer a great loss… My dear mother-in-law, she passed away. … The matriarch of the family, the sweetest, dearest, kindest woman. We love her, she is going to be greatly greatly missed by everyone,” Wendy Taylor said.

As news of Taylor’s grandmother’s passing spread throughout the NFL community, fans rallied around the Chiefs’ star, offering condolences and heartfelt messages of support. From expressions of sympathy to calls for strength during this difficult time, the support underscores the deep sense of camaraderie and solidarity within the football community.

Mary Taylor was Jawaan Taylor’s father’s mother. The reason behind her death was not revealed. The player also lost his father Robert in January 2022 after he passed away unexpectedly. Robert was the reason Jawaan started playing football. Back in 2010, he lost his maternal grandmother, Gwendolyn Lewis, and honored her during the 2019 NFL draft. During the NFL Draft Red Carpet, the athlete wore a three-piece suit and his grandmother’s picture was sewn on the inside of his jacket.

Now, Taylor is heading to win his first Super Bowl, and his mother, Wendy, who is another influential figure in his life, will be there to cheer for her son.

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For over two decades, Wendy Taylor poured her love and devotion into raising Jawaan and his siblings, Jeremy. Jawaan, a “momma’s boy“, shares a tight bond with his mother. She is a huge Chiefs supporter and regularly posts about the team.

When Jawaan entered the world ahead of schedule, weighing nearly nine pounds, Wendy’s mother, Gwendolyn Lewis, saw something special in him. With hands and feet that seemed destined for football greatness, Jawaan’s journey to the NFL began long before he stepped onto the field. It was a path paved with love, nurtured by a mother’s intuition and a grandmother’s foresight.

As Jawaan Taylor prepares to battle for football’s ultimate prize, he carries with him the memory of his grandmother’s unwavering belief in his potential. Furthermore, he will try to make his mother and grandmother proud. Every snap will be a tribute to their love and sacrifice, every victory a testament to their influence. For Jawaan, the Super Bowl isn’t just about winning a game—it’s about honoring the women in his life who believed in him from the very beginning.

Super Bowl LVIII will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers.

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