Reese Taylor Bio
Reese Taylor (born August 27, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback and special teamer for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and listed around 185 pounds, Taylor has carved out a role as a reserve defensive back and special-teams contributor. His career path from high-school quarterback to NFL cornerback reflects a steady willingness to change positions and adapt his game.
Early Life and Background
Reese Taylor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he grew up surrounded by a strong football culture. He attended Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, a program known for producing competitive teams at the state level.
At Ben Davis, Taylor played quarterback and was selected as an All-State quarterback twice. As a senior, he led the team to a state championship, capping one of the most successful individual high-school careers in recent Indianapolis memory.
His senior performance earned him the 2017 Indiana Mr. Football Award, one of the most prestigious individual honors for a high-school player in the state. That recognition drew the attention of multiple college programs and helped set the stage for his move to the next level.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school as a decorated quarterback, Taylor signed with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2018. He spent his first college season working as a reserve while contributing on both offense and special teams, showing the kind of versatility that would later define his professional profile.
Before the 2019 season, Taylor made the positional switch to cornerback, a transition that required him to rebuild his technique on the defensive side of the ball. Despite the change, he appeared in 11 games with one start and recorded his first collegiate interception.
By his later college seasons, Taylor had embraced the cornerback role and added punt-return duties, further proving his value as a two-phase contributor. His development at Indiana, followed by a final year at Purdue, gave him the resume he needed to pursue an NFL opportunity.
Reese Taylor Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Taylor began his college career at Indiana in 2018, playing in all 12 games as a reserve. He finished that debut season with 7 tackles, 174 receiving yards, and 83 rushing yards, contributing in a variety of roles while learning the speed of the college game.
After switching to cornerback in 2019, he steadily expanded his responsibilities. Across his four Indiana seasons, he developed into a regular starter on defense and a reliable option on punt returns, building the kind of well-rounded profile NFL scouts often look for in undrafted prospects.
Indiana Hoosiers Years (2018–2021)
Taylor’s most productive stretch at Indiana came as a cornerback. In 2019, he recorded 13 tackles, one interception, one tackle-for-loss, and two pass breakups across 11 games and one start, adjusting quickly to his new position.
In 2020, he led Indiana in pass breakups with seven while adding 29 tackles, one interception, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, and 73 punt return yards. The following year, he appeared in nine games with five starts and posted 25 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one sack, two pass breakups, and 32 punt return yards, cementing his role as a starter.
Purdue Boilermakers Year (2022)
In 2022, Taylor transferred to Purdue as a fifth-year senior, seeking a final collegiate season with a larger role. He started all 13 games for the Boilermakers and recorded a career-high 34 tackles, along with one interception and four pass breakups.
His reliability in coverage and on special teams at Purdue helped position him as a priority undrafted free agent target following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Taylor was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He played 65 snaps across all three of the team’s preseason games, recording six tackles and a quarterback hit while showcasing his physicality in the secondary.
Taylor was waived during the Chiefs’ final roster cuts but was quickly signed to the team’s practice squad. He was released shortly afterward, however, closing his initial NFL chapter in Kansas City.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–Present)
On November 8, 2023, Taylor was signed to the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, beginning a longer association with the franchise. He signed a reserve/futures contract on January 8, 2024, and was later waived on August 27, 2024, before being re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Taylor signed another reserve/futures contract with Denver on January 13, 2025, reinforcing his standing with the organization. On August 26, 2025, he was waived and again re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and on November 15, 2025, he was promoted to the active roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Winning the 2017 Indiana Mr. Football Award stands as Taylor’s most significant pre-professional milestone, marking him as one of the top high-school players in the state. His transition from quarterback to cornerback at Indiana, followed by a successful final season at Purdue, represents another defining chapter of his journey.
Reese Taylor Career Wins
Reese Taylor’s professional career is still in its developmental stages, with most of his on-field production to this point coming on practice squads, in preseason games, and through special-teams assignments. His statistical resume at the NFL level remains limited, but his ability to bounce back from multiple waiver moves underscores the respect he has earned from coaching staffs.
College and Preseason Highlights
At Indiana, Taylor started regularly at cornerback and contributed on punt returns, finishing his Hoosiers career with multiple interceptions and a team-leading seven pass breakups in 2020. His lone season at Purdue produced career highs in tackles and starts, reinforcing his draft-eligible profile.
In the 2023 preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, Taylor posted six tackles and a quarterback hit across three games, a productive sample size for an undrafted rookie cornerback.
Reese Taylor Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Reese Taylor was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, and came through Ben Davis High School, a program with a deep tradition of producing college football talent. His development there, including two All-State selections at quarterback, formed the foundation of his football identity.
Personal Life
Taylor’s documented personal details are limited to his background as an Indianapolis native and his ongoing NFL career. Public records do not list confirmed details about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Reese Taylor’s 2025 season with the Denver Broncos has been defined by perseverance. After signing a reserve/futures contract in January 2025, he was waived in late August and quickly re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
On November 15, 2025, Taylor was promoted to the Denver Broncos’ active roster, a significant step in his professional journey. The promotion reflects the organization’s continued belief in his value as a cornerback and special-teams contributor.
As the 2025 season progresses, Taylor’s role with the Broncos centers on providing depth in the secondary and reliable production on special teams. His path through multiple practice-squad stints and roster moves highlights a player who has consistently earned another opportunity.