Jason Taylor II Bio
Jason Taylor II is an American professional football safety born on December 30, 1999, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2022. Taylor entered the National Football League through the 2023 NFL Draft and has been associated with the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs during his early professional career.
Early Life and Background
Jason Taylor II was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Carl Albert High School. He developed into one of the most productive defensive backs in the state during his prep career. His high school résumé included nine interceptions in his senior season, a performance that earned him recognition as the state Defensive Player of the Year by The Oklahoman.
Coming out of high school, Taylor was a sought-after recruit with multiple scholarship offers. He ultimately chose to play college football at Oklahoma State, turning down opportunities from Tulsa and SMU. His decision to remain in his home state set the stage for his development as a defensive back in the Big 12 Conference.
Path to American Football
Jason Taylor II’s path to the professional level began with a developmental redshirt year at Oklahoma State, followed by a redshirt freshman season in which he worked primarily on special teams. His role on the defense expanded once he reached his redshirt junior year, when he stepped into a starting safety position after an injury to incumbent starter Tre Sterling.
That breakthrough season produced 48 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, four passes defended, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. His performance earned him honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition and confirmed his trajectory toward a professional career. He followed that with a strong redshirt senior campaign, recording 99 tackles and six interceptions, and was named first-team All-Big 12 and a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. After that season, Taylor announced his decision to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jason Taylor II Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Jason Taylor II’s early career was built at Oklahoma State, where he spent five seasons developing from a limited freshman into one of the Big 12’s top safeties. He appeared in only three games during his true freshman year before redshirting, and he spent the following season working primarily on special teams while continuing to learn the defense.
His opportunity arrived in his redshirt junior season, and he took full advantage by becoming a full-time starter and earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. He closed his college career with a redshirt senior season that established him as a legitimate professional prospect, finishing with 99 tackles and six interceptions while earning first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2023–2024)
Jason Taylor II was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round, 234th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He joined a Rams organization that had won a Super Bowl the previous season and was looking to develop young depth in its secondary. Taylor’s first professional action, however, was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on September 15, 2023, after the early portion of the regular season.
He returned to the active roster on November 25, 2023, and finished his rookie year with the Rams. The following preseason, on August 27, 2024, Taylor was waived by Los Angeles and was re-signed to the team’s practice squad. He was released from that role on September 10, 2024, ending his initial stint with the franchise that drafted him.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024)
On September 17, 2024, Jason Taylor II signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity to continue his development. The move came shortly after his release from the Rams and allowed him to remain in a professional environment while working toward a return to an active roster.
Taylor’s time in Arizona was short, as he was released by the Cardinals on October 29, 2024. Despite the brevity of the stint, the Cardinals stop reflected the journeyman phase common for late-round rookies navigating the margins of an NFL roster.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2025)
On January 9, 2025, Jason Taylor II signed a reserve or future contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, joining one of the most successful organizations in the league. The deal gave him a path to compete for a role in the Chiefs’ defensive backfield heading into the 2025 offseason.
On May 1, 2025, Taylor was waived by Kansas City. The move concluded his association with the Chiefs after the early stages of the offseason program.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jason Taylor II is a versatile safety whose college résumé highlights strong tackling, ball production, and the ability to contribute on special teams. His six-interception redshirt senior season demonstrated the range and instincts that made him attractive as a draft prospect, while his earlier work on coverage units underscored his willingness to take on multiple roles. The combination of physicality in run support and turnover-creating ability in coverage defined his path to the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable milestones in Jason Taylor II’s career are his recognition as the state Defensive Player of the Year by The Oklahoman, his first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, and his second-team All-American honor from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. His selection by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft marked the start of his professional journey, and his subsequent moves to the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs reflected the perseverance required of a late-round rookie.
Jason Taylor II Career Wins
Jason Taylor II’s career highlights to this point are rooted in his college achievements and his perseverance through multiple professional stops, rather than in a list of headlining professional victories. His résumé is anchored by individual recognition and the steady accumulation of experience across three NFL organizations.
Big 12 and Collegiate Highlights
During his time at Oklahoma State, Jason Taylor II produced 99 tackles and six interceptions in his redshirt senior season, earning first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. His earlier honorable mention All-Big 12 season, which included two interceptions and a touchdown, marked the emergence of his role as a playmaker in the secondary.
Other Performances
Beyond his Big 12 recognition, Jason Taylor II earned The Oklahoman’s state Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior at Carl Albert High School after intercepting nine passes. That performance, combined with his special teams contributions at Oklahoma State, formed the foundation of his professional opportunity.
Jason Taylor II Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Jason Taylor II’s family background is limited, and the available sources do not detail his parents or any extended family. He was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and his hometown ties have remained part of his personal narrative throughout his playing career.
Personal Life
Details about Jason Taylor II’s personal life, including his marital status and any children, are not publicly documented in the available sources. His professional social media presence under the handle jctii_ on both X and Instagram provides additional context for fans seeking updates on his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 offseason brought another transition for Jason Taylor II, beginning with his January 9, 2025, reserve or future contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. The agreement positioned him to compete for a role in a championship-caliber organization during the spring practices and early offseason program. His release on May 1, 2025, however, brought that chapter to a close.
Following his time in Kansas City, Jason Taylor II’s immediate football future remained uncertain, with no publicly confirmed team affiliation after the early-May move. As a former late-round pick with starting experience in college, he remained a candidate for practice squad or training camp opportunities across the league.
Looking ahead, Jason Taylor II’s outlook centered on earning another opportunity to compete at the professional level. His combination of college production, special teams experience, and the perseverance shown across three NFL organizations suggested he had the tools to continue pursuing a sustained professional career.