Jacksonville Jaguars all-time Mount Rushmore

RB Fred Taylor (1998-08)

The Jaguars’ brilliant tradition of running the football is on full display on their Mount Rushmore as Fred Taylor becomes the second running back to make the list. Taylor, the Jaguars’ first-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, became a stalwart for a decade due to his incredible speed.

Injuries threatened to derail Taylor’s career early on as he missed 23 of 48 possible games between 1999-01. Fans began to give Taylor the moniker of “Fragile Fred,” which became a motivating cry for Taylor going forward.

From 2002-07, Taylor played in all but seven of Jacksonville’s games, with his good health allowing him to showcase his considerable talent. Taylor’s best season came in 2003, when he ran for 1,572 yards and six touchdowns while catching 48 passes for another 370 yards.

Like Jimmy Smith before him, Taylor’s name is all over the Jaguars’ record books, earning him a place in the Pride of the Jaguars. Taylor’s No. 28 is also one of two that the team doesn’t enter into circulation, a sign of how highly he is viewed by the organization.