“Life Comes Full Circle”, this phrase has never fit so well as on NFL Draft Day 2. Friday, April 25th, the night was already soaked in nerves and hope, but then came a moment that was more than just a draft day headline; it was a legacy inked in grit. When two gold jackets hang in your family, one worn by your father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, and the other by your uncle Zach Thomas, also a HOF’er, expectations are embedded in your DNA. But legacy can be a gift and a burden. Every step is watched, every route analysed, every block compared. And on this defining Friday, the win seemed personal. Former Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor had a tissue in his hand, his voice choked, and he stood frozen as his son’s name lit up the screen.
In a Zoom call with New York reporters, he said, “To watch him walk through the same facility and use the same locker room and take that same path that I took – ah, you’re trying to make me cry. I am not going to do it.“. But come on, Jason, you’re the one trying to make us cry. Who’s cutting onions, seriously?
Honestly, this was not the most obvious pick. The New York Jets did not scream tight end on most draft boards. Not after addressing the trenches in Round 1 by selecting Missouri’s Armand Membou at No. 7. Not with other glaring needs on both sides of the ball. And certainly not after minimal pre-draft contact with LSU‘s star tight end. But sometimes destiny makes you cross paths. With the 42nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Mason Taylor, tight end, LSU, the same team where his father suited up.
Mason Taylor to the #Jets. pic.twitter.com/AUAuPv9bzs
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 25, 2025
A lot about his background, right? Now let’s talk numbers. In three years, he set LSU’s all-time records for 129 receptions, 1308 receiving yards by a tight end. He scored 6 touchdowns across 38 games. Not very impressive numbers, but the twenty-year-old has potential. His game isn’t perfect, but there’s room for growth. Now, with Justin Fields stepping into the QB1 role under HC Aaron Glenn, and Tyler Conklin’s departure, the Jets knew they needed a reliable presence in the middle of the field, someone who could provide safety on broken days. And Mason fit the mold. He might not be a Day 1 star performer, but Mason’s ability to grow into the offense while complementing Fields gives the Jets something they’ve lacked for years. After Mason’s standout performance at the 2025 Senior Bowl, his name started buzzing louder in war rooms.
For fans of the game, and especially the Taylor family, this moment is unforgettable. A young man carving his identity, a father crying in the background, another chapter added to history. And if Mason’s first act in New York is anything like his father’s, the Jets fans should buckle up. Because “sky is the roof” for young Taylor.
Back in the Big Apple: Mason Taylor returns with a dream to chase
A little kid who once sprinted through Central Park, tackling his sibling and wearing his Dad’s No. 99 jersey, is all grown up, and he’s coming back to New York, but with a twist. Mason Taylor, now a rising force at tight end, isn’t just visiting NY this time. He’s moving in, ready to make MetLife Stadium his new home turf. The City that once served as his childhood playground is now his battlefield. In his first interview with the Green and White, Mason said, “It’s an amazing opportunity for me. I’ve seen my dad’s hard work and my uncle’s, just trying to be like them. I mean chasing in their footsteps and knowing that there’s no shortcuts.”
Back then, Jason, his dad, was the outsider Jets fans hated, taunting him every time he stepped into MetLife, but when he crossed over to play for the green and white in 2010, hearts slowly changed. The enemy became family, and respect replaced resentment. Jason’s year with the Jets ended in an AFC Championship run, and New York carved out a special place for him that never really faded. Jason mentioned that “A part of my heart has always been in New York, the greatest city on planet”. Now, seeing Mason ready to make his mark is heartwarming.
Mason Taylor, the calm and confident tight end, has a message for that little kid who once saw a dream holding his father’s jersey and for all the next generation dreamers, “Hard work, keep working. There’s no shortcut. Stay humble, stay hungry.” The Taylor family and the Jets, who were once tangled in rivalry, are now united by hope, pride, and hunger to chase something even bigger. Wondering what that is? With only one ring to their name in 1969, Jason hints at the Green-white army, “Let’s change that”. The Super Bowl dream is alive, and a Taylor is back in town to chase it down.
The post NFL HOF’ers Son & Joy Taylor’s Nephew Mason Joins Jets Offense & Clears Stance on Returning to New York appeared first on EssentiallySports.