Leonard Taylor III’s NFL season has been anything but predictable. Released by the New York Jets in October, the former Miami Hurricanes impact player found himself fighting to stay in the league. When the New England Patriots signed him, there were no promises attached. Just a chance to keep working.
Since then, Taylor has lived on the edge of the roster. Back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster. Preparing every week without knowing if game day would bring a helmet or another quiet Sunday. It is the reality for players trying to survive in the league, especially late in the season.
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For Taylor, the path to this moment has been a grind since the day he entered the league. After three productive seasons with the Miami Hurricanes, he went undrafted in 2024 and has spent much of his NFL career fighting for footing rather than comfort.
On Sunday afternoon, that patience finally mattered
Elevated from the practice squad ahead of the AFC Championship Game for depth, Taylor was not expected to play a starring role. But in the fourth quarter, with New England protecting a three point lead, he capitalized on his opportunity when it absolutely mattered the most.
Denver lined up for a field goal that would have tied the game. Taylor timed the snap, pushed through the line, and got his fingertips on the ball. Just enough to alter its path. The kick missed.
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The blocked kick preserved the 10-7 edge in the fourth quarter, and the Patriots were able to hold on by that same score.
It was one snap, but it carried the weight of an entire season. Teammates swarmed Taylor on the sideline, fully aware of what that moment meant for a player who had been released, overlooked, and kept waiting.
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This is how NFL careers are sustained. Not always with consistency or comfort, but with readiness. Leonard Taylor III stayed ready. When his opportunity arrived, he made the most of it and helped send New England to the Super Bowl.
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