Jim Taylor

Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor, who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1958-66, passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning at a Baton Rouge, La., hospital. Taylor was 83. Taylor surpassed 1,000 yards rushing five straight seasons from 1960 to 1964, including a league-high 1,474 yards when the Packers went 13-1 en route to winning the 1962 NFL championship. The Associated Press named Taylor the league’s most valuable player that year, although he saved his best for last. In the 1962 NFL Championship Game, played 17 days after he was voted MVP, Taylor delivered the most memorable performance of his career. In a brutal defensive battle, played in chilling temperatures, raw winds and on a Yankee Stadium field not much softer than concrete, Taylor carried 31 times and gained 85 yards as the Packers outlasted the New York Giants, 16-7. Taylor started at fullback on six of Vince Lombardi’s seven NFL championship teams and led the Packers in rushing seven times. Taylor held the Packers’ career rushing record for 43 years. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976, the first of Vince Lombardi’s Packers to be so honored.