The number 21 hangs heavy on the volleyball court at the University of North Carolina. For Jackie Taylor – it’s more than just a jersey though – it’s a bridge to a father she never fully knew. It’s a legacy she refuses to let fade, and a rebellion against the tragedy that tried to define her. Now, she pays tribute to the NFL legend who made waves big enough to inspire generations to come.

At 18, Jackie Taylor is a 6’1” middle blocker, dominating the net for UNC. A far cry from the football fields where her father, Washington Commanders legend Sean Taylor, became a Pro Bowl safety before his murder in 2007. “I’m big on creating my own name and being my own self,” Jackie confessed during an emotional appearance on The Pivot Podcast. “But I’m definitely carrying his name through in every aspect of my game.” While talking about her late father, Jackie also admitted,  “He would’ve been such a changemaker beyond the football field. He would’ve changed my perspective in life.”

The parallels are undeniable. They nicknamed Sean “Meast” (half-man, half-beast) because of his ferocious hits. He redefined defensive play in the mid-2000s. Jackie, who picked up volleyball at 14, led her Miami high school to its first state title in the sport. Exactly 17 years after Sean did the same in football at the same school. Once, celebrating Jackie’s state volleyball title at a Florida restaurant in 2023, Garcia-Haley (Jackie’s mom) gave her the football helmet Sean wore when his team won the Florida state high school championship in 2000.

Now, wearing his retired No. 21, she spikes with the same explosive intensity that made Sean a household name. But the jersey is more than just a tribute. “You work so hard for your legacy – getting his jersey retired, him being the one on the field – all those little things are like, wow, just taken away from him,” Jackie shared tearfully. She’s rewriting her legacy, proving its foundation is hard work, not inheritance.

Sean Taylor’s legacy carried through his daughter 

Sean Taylor’s shadow looms large. His murder in 2007 during a home invasion remains one of the darkest moments in NFL history. It has left an indelible mark on Jackie’s life. For her, volleyball has become a passion, like football was to her father. “You never know when your last day is going to come,” she said, echoing Sean’s mantra to “live every day to the fullest,” “That quote – a true testament to the little things that matter – no matter what the outcome is.”

Those “little things” are now what drives Jackie. While Sean fought receivers on the field, Jackie is battling for visibility in women’s sports. “I really work hard to strive to continue his legacy – to continue my legacy – be a change for young women.” she emphasized. When UNC’s volleyball team set an attendance record in 2024, Jackie made sure the postgame interviews highlighted the lack of media coverage for female athletes. It was a nod to her father’s quiet activism off the field.

Sean Taylor’s influence extends beyond his impressive statistics (243 solo tackles and 12 interceptions over four seasons) and crucial hits. Teammates often joked that he’d ‘tackle the air’ during drills just to stay sharp. That obsessiveness lives on in Jackie’s 5 a.m. practices and her refusal to quit. “My dad worked really hard to make something – it’s always been something I never wanted to mess up or something I’ve never wanted to shy away from,” Jackie said in one particular interview with ESPN.

In The Pivot Podcast, Jackie admitted that the biggest thing she missed out on was the memories she could have shared with her father when he was on the field. “All the memories and the moments and all those things – we could have obviously shared, but that’s what hits me the most out of everything.” Reflecting further on her life right now, she expressed her gratitude to her family for being a pillar for her, “I think I’m super lucky to have siblings, a dad I call Dad, a mom – everything,” she said, referring to her stepfather. “A lot of girls don’t get that.”

It’s this blend of normalcy and purpose that makes this legacy unique. And Jackie is building her own monuments – one dig, one spike, one viral moment at a time.

Sean Taylor was an artist on the gridiron. Jackie’s canvas is smaller – a 30×30 foot court – but her brushstrokes are just as bold. Carrying her father’s ferocity with her own flair, she’s answering a question NFL fans have asked for 17 years: What happens to a legacy when its hero is gone?

The Answer? It evolves.