Raised in the street of Vandalia, Ohio with his athletic aspirations, Taylor Decker left no stone unturned to make his parents proud! From amplifying his football abilities at Butler High School in Vandalia to becoming the four-star recruit in his class, his parents were pretty much sure about his NFL dreams since the start. His mom, Sheila, and dad Ron Decker have been his unsung heroes throughout his journey.

From his transition as an Ohio State player to turning out as the Detroit Lions‘ aggressive offensive tackle showcases his determination and doggedness. Undoubtedly, it comes from his constant supporter and beloved guardian. Since he made an entry into the NFL in 2016, he has continued to add accolades to his list. Recently, on January 28, he earned the nomination to the Pro Bowl roster, replacing his teammate and OT Penei Sewell. And, for this, no one is as proud as his parents.

Who are Ron and Sheila Decker?

Despite facing many ups and downs in his career, the NFL OT never lost hope. He kept moving towards his goals with optimism. Of course, his parents have been with him at every step of his way to encourage him. Taylor Decker shares a healthy relationship with his mom, Sheila Decker. He often adores his mom for her doggedness as she flawlessly overcame an abusive marriage before meeting his dad, Ron.

In Nov, 2019, Taylor Decker, 31, exhibited his mom’s most painful experience. It was at the opening ceremony of the new Covenant House Michigan Caritas Emergency Shelter in Detroit. “Thankfully, she had the strength to get out of that situation,” Decker iterated. It indeed reflected his sentiments for his mom.

Clearly, taking inspiration from his mom’s past life, he learned how to overcome difficulties on and off the field. Besides being the most supportive mom to Taylor, Sheila Decker also raised her other 4 kids with her husband Ron. Interestingly, Taylor is the youngest of his five siblings.

Just like his mom, dad Ron also played an elementary role in his success. He also keeps motivating him to achieve his goals. However, there is very limited information available about his dad’s background. But for sure, his successful trajectory in the NFL made his parents proud.

 How has Taylor Decker’s NFL journey been pivotal for his family?

From his transitions as the standout Buckeyes athlete to the Lions’s most offended OT, Taylor Decker’s NFL journey has made a remarkable impact on his family. Earlier in September 2020, he inked the five-year $70 million contract extension deal with the Lions. Taylor demonstrated that making his parents and family satisfied was his sole objective in life and athletics.

Just three days later, when he signed the lucrative contract extension deal with the Lions, he first called his parents. At that moment, he wanted to tell his parents directly before his agreement news leaked through the media. As per the Detroit News website report published back in September 2020, he expressed his feelings.

 “Those were the two people I thought should hear it straight from my mouth,” he reflected during a video call. “I told them the other day, a couple of days before when we had started negotiations. And I wanted to be the one to tell them,” he added further.

Not only this but after signing the hefty deals with the Lions, he also disclosed his mom being emotional soon after knowing about his massive contract.

“My mom started immediately bawling, crying, and I started crying,” Decker remarked. But, his mom’s bawling created a slight problem because he had only four minutes to present himself for a team meeting. “It was quick, emotional,” Lions OT asserted. “Then I called my mom and dad again today, right after I actually signed it. Yeah, I mean, I’m the youngest of five, and I’m sure for my siblings and our parents to see their baby boy and their baby brother accomplish something like that, I hope it was cool for them,” he continued.

Not only this, at that moment, he also made clear that through his NFL accomplishments, he just wanted to make his parents proud at every cost. “I texted my dad last night, I always just wanted to make him proud,” NFL OT iterated while talking about his guardian with emotions. And, each day, it motivates him to see beyond the horizon and achieve new heights on the NFL field.