Trey Taylor Bio
Trey Taylor is an American professional football safety born on January 30, 2001, in Frisco, Texas. He played college football for the Air Force Falcons, where he garnered attention for his impressive performances, culminating in winning the Jim Thorpe Award in 2023, which recognizes the nation’s top defensive back. Taylor’s journey in football began at Lone Star High School in Frisco, where he excelled in both football and track and field.
Selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Taylor transitioned from a decorated college career at a service academy to the professional ranks. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed at 205 pounds, he plays the defensive back position with the physicality developed during his time at Air Force.
Early Life and Background
Trey Taylor grew up in Frisco, Texas, a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area that has produced a steady stream of college and professional athletes. He attended Lone Star High School in Frisco, where he lettered in both football and track and field, demonstrating the kind of multi-sport athletic background common among NFL defensive backs. His high school experience laid the foundation for the speed and tackling ability that would later define his college career.
Coming out of Lone Star, Taylor drew attention from college programs and elected to continue his football career at the United States Air Force Academy. The decision to attend a service academy added a layer of structure and discipline to his development, both as an athlete and as a person. That choice shaped the next five years of his football journey and set the stage for his emergence as one of the top defensive backs in college football.
Path to American Football
Taylor’s path to the upper levels of American football began slowly at Air Force. In his first two seasons with the Falcons, during 2019 and 2020, he did not appear in any games, using the time to develop physically and learn the defensive system. The lack of early playing time did not derail his trajectory, as he broke onto the field in a meaningful way beginning with the 2021 season.
In 2021, Taylor recorded 62 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, five pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble, establishing himself as a productive defender. He built on that performance in 2022, finishing with 69 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, four pass deflections, and two interceptions, earning Second-team All-Mountain West recognition. By the time his senior season arrived in 2023, he had become one of the most respected defensive backs in the Football Bowl Subdivision and a clear candidate for national honors.
Trey Taylor Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Taylor’s early career at Air Force featured steady statistical growth across his first two seasons of action. After a redshirt period in 2019 and a season without appearances in 2020, he became a regular contributor in 2021 and quickly showed a knack for finding the ball carrier. His combination of tackling volume and playmaking in the secondary stood out to Mountain West coaches.
His 2022 campaign produced Second-team All-Mountain West honors, recognition that confirmed his status as one of the conference’s premier safeties. The back-to-back seasons of heavy tackle totals, paired with multiple interceptions, gave the Air Force coaching staff a reliable anchor in the defensive backfield heading into his senior year.
Senior Season and National Recognition (2023)
Taylor’s senior season at Air Force turned him into a national name. In week seven of the 2023 season, he notched ten tackles with one for a loss against Wyoming, a performance that earned him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week. He followed that with another ten-tackle outing against Colorado State in week nine, demonstrating consistency against some of the conference’s top competition.
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Taylor was named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive back. He was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award on December 8, becoming a First-team All-American and First-team All-Mountain West selection in the same year. In late January 2024, he also received the Pat Tillman Award at the East-West Shrine Bowl, an honor that recognized his leadership and character in addition to his on-field play.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
Taylor was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the seventh round, 223rd overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He began his rookie season on injured reserve after being placed there on August 27, 2024, before being activated on October 12. Despite the slow start to his professional career, he appeared in nine games during his rookie season, gaining valuable experience in the Raiders’ defensive backfield.
Heading into the 2025 season, Taylor was waived by the Raiders as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was waived from the practice squad on September 1, marking a transitional period as he worked to secure a roster spot. His current status with the organization reflects the typical up-and-down path of a late-round rookie navigating the business side of professional football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Taylor’s defining career moments, winning the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award stands as the centerpiece. Receiving the Pat Tillman Award at the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl added a layer of recognition tied to character and leadership. Being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Raiders marked the formal transition from standout college player to professional athlete.
Trey Taylor Career Wins
Trey Taylor’s career achievements are primarily defined by individual awards and honors rather than team championships. His most significant accolade is the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive back, along with First-team All-American and First-team All-Mountain West selections that same year. He also earned Second-team All-Mountain West honors in 2022, a sign of his sustained excellence across multiple college seasons.
College Highlights
Taylor’s college resume includes two seasons of 60-plus tackles, multiple interceptions in both 2021 and 2022, and a senior campaign that featured multiple double-digit tackle performances. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award he earned after the Wyoming game in 2023 highlighted his ability to rise to the occasion against ranked opponents.
Other Recognitions
The Pat Tillman Award, presented in January 2024 at the East-West Shrine Bowl, recognized Taylor’s leadership and service background alongside his on-field accomplishments. The honor reinforced the values associated with his time at the Air Force Academy and remains a notable recognition outside of his statistical achievements.
Trey Taylor Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Trey Taylor’s connection to professional football extends beyond his own career. He is the cousin, by marriage, of NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed, one of the most accomplished safeties in league history. The family tie to a player widely regarded as one of the best to ever play the position provides a notable link to NFL defensive back tradition.
Personal Life
Taylor’s personal background has been shaped significantly by his decision to attend the Air Force Academy, an institution that combines academic, athletic, and military training. The discipline associated with that experience has been cited as part of his development as a professional athlete. Public details about his personal relationships and family life beyond his connection to Ed Reed are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Trey Taylor’s 2025 season began with uncertainty surrounding his roster status with the Las Vegas Raiders. After being waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, he was re-signed to the practice squad the following day, only to be waived from the practice squad on September 1. The early-season movement reflects the reality facing many late-round NFL players fighting for a long-term place on a roster.
Despite the late-summer transactions, Taylor’s prior playing time during his rookie season, including nine games with the Raiders, gives him a foundation to build on. His defensive back skills, developed through five college seasons at Air Force and recognized with the 2023 Jim Thorpe Award, remain his primary asset as he works to re-establish himself within the organization or elsewhere in the league.
Looking ahead, Taylor’s path back to an active roster will likely depend on his ability to translate his college production into the specialized roles demanded by NFL defensive schemes. The combination of his tackling reliability, ball production, and football pedigree through his connection to Ed Reed provides a basis for continued opportunity in professional football.