Joseph Justyn Taylor Bio
Joseph Justyn Taylor is an American professional football running back and return specialist who played college football for the Arizona Wildcats. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Taylor signed with the New England Patriots, where he made his professional debut in the NFL. Taylor is also recognized for his skills in Rocket League esports as a member of Team Oxygen. Standing at 5 feet 6 inches, Taylor has carved out a reputation as a shifty and elusive runner throughout his collegiate and professional career.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Justyn Taylor was born on January 4, 1998, in Corona, California. He attended Centennial High School in Corona and graduated in 2016. Taylor initially played defensive back before converting to running back, a move that would define his football career. He was named Mr. Football as the state’s top offensive player by CalHiSports.com during his senior year. Additionally, he earned All-Inland First-team honors and was recognized as a Blue-Grey All-American.
During his senior season at Centennial High School, Taylor rushed for 2,290 yards and 44 touchdowns, showcasing his exceptional talent as a ball carrier. He earned a three-star recruit rating from Scout.com, Rivals.com, and 247Sports. Taylor received multiple college offers from programs including Washington State, Nevada, Ohio, Montana State, Sacramento State, and Weber State from the Big Sky Conference. He ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Arizona in 2015.
Path to American Football
Taylor joined the Arizona Wildcats in 2016 as a true freshman. He played in four games with one career start before suffering a season-ending injury. Despite limited playing time, Taylor rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. His most productive stretch came in a two-game period where he rushed for a combined 267 yards on 37 carries with two touchdowns, including a strong performance against Hawaii in Week 3. The injury occurred during Arizona’s Pac-12 opener against Washington, derailing what appeared to be a breakout freshman season.
As a redshirt freshman in 2017, Taylor played in all 12 games and became the Pac-12’s top freshman rusher with 828 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry and adding five touchdowns. He recorded a career-best game against Washington State with 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Taylor was a major contributor to Arizona’s ground game that averaged 324.4 yards per game, ranking third in the FBS, and helped the team set a school single-season record of 48 rushing touchdowns. He earned Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors for his performance.
In 2018, Taylor was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list and earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Southern Utah and finished the season with 1,434 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards, and seven total touchdowns. As a redshirted junior in 2019, Taylor rushed for 721 yards and five touchdowns before announcing on November 19, 2019, that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Across his four collegiate seasons, Taylor accumulated 3,244 rushing yards.
Joseph Justyn Taylor Career
New England Patriots (2020–2022)
Taylor signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2020. He was waived by the team on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 7, 2020. Taylor made his professional debut in the Patriots’ Week 1 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Throughout his rookie season, he appeared in multiple games as a reserve and special teams contributor.
Arguably Taylor’s best game as a professional came on October 24, 2021, when he rushed for 21 yards and scored two touchdowns during a 54-13 Patriots victory over the New York Jets. On August 30, 2022, Taylor was waived by the Patriots and signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on November 5, 2022. He was waived again on November 21 and re-signed to the practice squad. Taylor signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023. He was released on August 29, 2023, concluding his tenure with the Patriots after three seasons.
Houston Texans (2023–2025)
On November 1, 2023, Taylor was signed to the Houston Texans’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on January 22, 2024. Taylor was released by the Texans on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 30, 2024. Taylor signed another reserve/future contract with Houston on January 21, 2025. On August 19, 2025, Taylor was released by the Texans, ending his NFL career.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2026)
On February 2, 2026, Taylor signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He retired from professional football on April 30, 2026, concluding his six-year football career.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Taylor relied on his low center of gravity, exceptional agility, and burst to create yards after contact. His compact frame allowed him to navigate through tight spaces and elude defenders in the open field. Taylor demonstrated versatility as both a running back and return specialist, contributing on special teams throughout his professional career. His vision and ability to find holes in the offensive line were evident during his collegiate career at Arizona, where he consistently produced high-yardage games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Taylor’s career highlights include earning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2017 and First-team All-Pac-12 recognition in 2018 during his time at Arizona. His two-touchdown performance against the New York Jets in 2021 represented his most productive professional game. Taylor appeared in multiple NFL games across four seasons with the Patriots and Texans, contributing as a reserve and special teams player. His journey from an undrafted free agent to a multi-season NFL contributor exemplified his persistence and adaptability at the professional level.
Joseph Justyn Taylor Career Wins
Taylor accumulated notable statistics across his collegiate and professional football career. At Arizona, he was a consistent producer, eclipsing 800 rushing yards in multiple seasons. His professional career included appearances in numerous NFL games with the Patriots and Texans.
Arizona Wildcats Highlights
During his four seasons at Arizona from 2016 to 2019, Taylor established himself as one of the most productive running backs in school history. He finished his collegiate career with 3,244 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. His standout season came in 2018 when he rushed for 1,434 yards and earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors. Taylor’s 828-yard freshman campaign earned him Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year recognition. He was a key component of Arizona’s rushing attack that set school records for single-season rushing touchdowns.
Other Achievements
Beyond his football career, Taylor has competed as a professional Rocket League esports player for Team Oxygen, demonstrating his versatility across athletic pursuits. In the NFL, Taylor appeared in multiple games across four seasons, contributing primarily as a reserve running back and special teams performer.
| Level | Years | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| College (Arizona) | 2016–2019 | 3,244 | 16 |
| NFL (Patriots/Texans) | 2020–2025 | 200 | 2 |
Joseph Justyn Taylor Family
Personal Life
Taylor was born and raised in Corona, California, where he attended Centennial High School. Beyond his football career, Taylor has pursued competitive esports, notably competing in Rocket League as a member of Team Oxygen. This dual-sport involvement has allowed him to maintain connections to competitive gaming throughout his football career. Details about his family, marital status, or children have not been publicly disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
Taylor began the 2025 season with the Houston Texans after signing a reserve/future contract in January. He remained with the organization through the early portion of the season before being released on August 19, 2025. The release marked the conclusion of his NFL career, spanning five seasons since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Taylor’s journey through the NFL included stints with both the Patriots and Texans, demonstrating his ability to earn roster spots as an undersized running back in a competitive league. Following his football career, Taylor signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in February 2026 before retiring in April 2026.