Taylor Gabriel
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Taylor Gabriel
| image = Taylor Gabriel Bears at Redskins 2019 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Gabriel with the Chicago Bears in 2019
| number = 18
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|2|17|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 7
| weight_lbs = 168
| high_school = John Horn (Mesquite, Texas)
| college = Abilene Christian
| undraftedyear = 2014
| pastteams =
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 228
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 2,860
| statlabel3 = Rushing yards
| statvalue3 = 191
| statlabel4 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 15
| pfr = G/GabrTa00
}}
Taylor James Gabriel (born February 17, 1991) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Abilene Christian, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He also played with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears.
Early life
Gabriel attended John Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas, where he played football, basketball, and ran track for the Jaguars athletic teams.{{Cite web |last=Wixon |first=Matt |date=February 3, 2017 |title=Former Mesquite Horn receiver Taylor Gabriel on playing in Super Bowl with Falcons: 'It's like a fairy tale' |url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/high-school/high-schools/2017/02/03/former-mesquite-horn-receiver-taylor-gabriel-playing-super-bowl-falcons-like-fairy-tale |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=SportsDayHS |language=en}} In football, he was a three-year letterman at wide receiver, cornerback, and kick returner. He was an All-District selection as a junior after he had 47 catches for 588 yards and four touchdowns. He earned Class 5A TSWA All-State as senior in 2008 after totalling 90 catches for 1,354 yards with 13 touchdowns for a 4–7 team with the school’s first playoff bid.{{Cite web |last=Dunne |first=Tyler |date=January 13, 2017 |title=Taylor Gabriel's Long Road from Grieving Teen to Falcons X-Factor |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686699-taylor-gabriels-long-road-from-grieving-teen-to-falcons-x-factor |access-date=December 6, 2018 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} He was also named APSE second team all-state and was the District 11-5A MVP.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel - 2013 Football Roster |url=http://www.acusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4340 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=Abilene Christian Wildcats Athletics}}
College career
Gabriel enrolled to play college football at Abilene Christian University, where he holds the record for most career touchdowns, from 2010 to 2013. In the 2010 season, he finished with 26 receptions for 295 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel Statistics 2010 |url=https://static.acusports.com/custompages/football/2010/plyr_14.htm |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=Abilene Christian Wildcats Athletics}} In the 2011 season, he had 64 receptions for 988 receiving yards and ten touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel Statistics 2011 |url=https://static.acusports.com/custompages/football/2011/plyr_4.htm |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=Abilene Christian Wildcats Athletics}} In the 2012 season, he finished with 52 receptions for 684 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel Statistics 2012 |url=https://static.acusports.com/custompages/football/2012/plyr_4.htm |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=Abilene Christian Wildcats Athletics}} In his final season with the team in 2013, he had 73 receptions for 1,060 receiving yards and ten touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel Statistics 2013 |url=https://static.acusports.com/custompages/football/2013/plyr_4.htm |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=Abilene Christian Wildcats Athletics}} He finished his career, second in school history with 215 receptions for 3,027 yards and 27 touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2014 |title=Gabriel making most of NFL opportunity |url=https://acu.edu/2014/10/05/gabriel-making-most-of-nfl-opportunity/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Abilene Christian University |language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 7 1/2
| weight = 167
| dash = 4.40
| ten split = 1.50
| twenty split = 2.47
| shuttle = 4.21
| cone drill = 6.84
| vertical = 40.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 5
| bench = 17
| arm span = 29 3/4
| hand span = 8 3/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2014 NFL Draft Scout Taylor Gabriel College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=107563&DraftYear=2014 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
file:Taylor Gabriel cropped Cleveland Browns New Uniform Unveiling (17153555281).jpg
=Cleveland Browns=
Gabriel was signed by the Cleveland Browns after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2014 |title=Do the Browns have a diamond in the rough in undrafted WR Gabriel? |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/do-the-browns-have-a-diamond-in-the-rough-in-undrafted-wr-gabriel |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=FOX Sports}}{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Browns undrafted rookie Gabriel making case for himself in receiving corps desperate for help |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/browns/2014/08/15/browns-undrafted-rookie-gabriel-making/10696528007/ |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Akron Beacon Journal |language=en-US}}
Gabriel made his NFL debut on September 7, 2014, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording one reception for five yards.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 7th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201409070pit.htm |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |language=en}} In Week 9, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 34-yard pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer for his first career touchdown reception.{{Cite web |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Browns - November 2nd, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201411020cle.htm |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He finished the 2014 season with 36 receptions for 621 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2015 season, he recorded 28 receptions for 241 yards.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On September 3, 2016, Gabriel was released by the Browns.{{Cite web |last=Gribble |first=Andrew |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Cleveland Browns reduce roster to 53 |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Cleveland-Browns-reduce-roster-to-53/5a61e8ac-86b6-4a03-925c-c546358aaa86 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809090938/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-5/Cleveland-Browns-reduce-roster-to-53/5a61e8ac-86b6-4a03-925c-c546358aaa86 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |website=ClevelandBrowns.com}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
Gabriel was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Falcons on September 4, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Zac |date=September 4, 2016 |title=Falcons claim Taylor Gabriel |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/09/04/falcons-claim-taylor-gabriel/ |access-date=September 4, 2016 |website=NBCSports.com}} In Atlanta's Week 12 game against the Arizona Cardinals, he scored two touchdowns, helping to lead the Falcons to a 38–19 win.{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons - November 27th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201611270atl.htm |access-date=December 25, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams, he had three receptions for 82 yards and scored one touchdown in the 42–14 victory.{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams - December 11th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201612110ram.htm |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He played a significant role for the Falcons throughout the season, which was successful and resulted in an appearance in Super Bowl LI, where they lost to the New England Patriots in overtime by a score of 34–28.{{Cite web |last=Chadiha |first=Jeffri |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Falcons' historic collapse leads to Patriots' fifth Super Bowl win |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-historic-collapse-leads-to-patriots-fifth-super-bowl-wi-0ap3000000783872 |access-date=August 6, 2017 |website=NFL.com}} Gabriel had three receptions for 76 yards in the Super Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201702050atl.htm |access-date=August 6, 2017 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} Overall, in the 2016 regular season, Gabriel recorded 35 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=December 28, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On March 8, 2017, the Falcons placed a second-round tender on Gabriel.{{Cite web |last=Conway |first=Kelsey |date=March 8, 2017 |title=Falcons Place Second-Round Tender On Gabriel |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Place-Second-Round-Tender-on-Gabriel/79da3fd8-44e0-442c-8c52-814190623943 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=AtlantaFalcons.com}} He officially signed his tender on April 22, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=April 22, 2017 |title=Falcons' Taylor Gabriel signs second-round tender |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/falcons-taylor-gabriel-signs-second-round-tender-0ap3000000801905 |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=NFL.com}} In the 2017 season, Gabriel played in 16 games with four starts, recording 33 receptions for 378 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=April 9, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
{{Clear}}
=Chicago Bears=
==2018 season==
On March 14, 2018, Gabriel signed a four-year $26 million contract with the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=March 14, 2018 |title=Roster Moves: Bears land five unrestricted free agents |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Roster-Moves-Bears-land-five-unrestricted-free-agents/45adadad-2ff0-428a-9734-37aba19e7383 |access-date=September 19, 2019 |website=ChicagoBears.com |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315134213/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Roster-Moves-Bears-land-five-unrestricted-free-agents/45adadad-2ff0-428a-9734-37aba19e7383 |url-status=dead }}
On September 9, Gabriel made his Bears debut, catching five passes for 25 yards in the season-opening 24–23 road loss to the Green Bay Packers.{{Cite news |last=Hurley |first=Parker |date=September 10, 2018 |title=Chicago Bears snap counts: Taylor Gabriel true WR2 |work=Bear Goggles On |url=https://beargoggleson.com/2018/09/10/chicago-bears-snap-counts-taylor-gabriel-true-wr2/ |access-date=September 19, 2019}} On September 30, 2018, he caught a season-high seven passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a 48–10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{Cite news |last=Finley |first=Patrick |date=October 1, 2018 |title=Good, bad and best: How the Bears fared in Week 4 vs. Buccaneers |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/bears-taylor-gabriel-mitch-trubisky-jordan-howard-buccaneers-good-bad-best/ |access-date=September 19, 2019}} This was the second time he caught two touchdowns in a single game, the last time was with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. On October 14, Gabriel had five receptions for 110 yards in the 31–28 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 6.{{Cite news |last=LeGere |first=Bob |date=October 17, 2018 |title=Gabriel catching on fast with Chicago Bears |work=Daily Herald |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180925/gabriel-catching-on-fast-with-chicago-bears |access-date=September 19, 2019}}
Gabriel finished the 2018 season with the Bears with 67 catches for 688 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Bears 2018 position review: Receiver |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-2018-position-review-receiver |access-date=February 11, 2019 |publisher=Chicago Bears}}
==2019 season==
File:Gabriel TD.jpg in 2019.]]
During Week 3 against the Washington Redskins, Gabriel caught six passes for 75 yards and three touchdowns in the 31–15 road victory,{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2019 |title=Trubisky, Bears get offense on track, beat Redskins 31-15 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128003 |access-date=September 22, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} though he exited the game with a concussion. He was the 35th player in NFL history to score three receiving touchdowns in the first half of a game and the first Bears player to do so in the Super Bowl era.{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Jelani |date=September 24, 2019 |title=Bears' Taylor Gabriel suffers concussion vs. Redskins |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001058597/article/taylor-gabriel-concussion-out-for-rest-of-mnf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924170251/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001058597/article/taylor-gabriel-concussion-out-for-rest-of-mnf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=September 24, 2019 |website=National Football League}}{{Cite web |last=Ponciano |first=Jorge |date=September 23, 2019 |title=Bears WR Taylor Gabriel is 3rd player in NFL history to record three first-half receiving TDs on Monday Night Football |url=https://clutchpoints.com/bears-news-taylor-gabriel-is-3rd-player-in-nfl-history-to-record-three-first-half-receiving-tds-on-monday-night-football/ |access-date=September 24, 2019 |website=Clutch Points}} Gabriel was also the fourth player in Bears history to accomplish the feat in one quarter after Red Pollock (1935), Frank Minini (1948), and Gale Sayers (1965).{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=September 26, 2019 |title=Chalk Talk: Who was last punter to kick FG? |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/chalktalk/chalk-talk-who-was-last-punter-to-kick-fg |access-date=September 26, 2019 |website=Chicago Bears}} Gabriel was forced to miss the following week's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Without Gabriel, the Bears won 16–6.{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Bears lose Trubisky, shut down Cook in 16-6 win over Vikings |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128093 |access-date=September 29, 2019 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}} He finished the 2019 season with 29 receptions for 353 yards and four touchdowns along with 20 rushing yards.{{Cite web |title=Taylor Gabriel 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On February 21, 2020, Gabriel was released by the Bears after two seasons in a move to create cap space.{{Cite web |last=Biggs |first=Brad |date=February 21, 2020 |title=Bears release cornerback Prince Amukamara and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, clearing $12.5 million in salary-cap space while creating 2 needs |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-chicago-bears-prince-amukamara-taylor-gabriel-cut-20200221-24gnkyxu3vcc7akx5dpowkbgxq-story.html |access-date=February 21, 2020 |website=Chicago Tribune}}
On April 9, 2021, Gabriel announced his retirement.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=April 10, 2021 |title=Taylor Gabriel retires |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/10/taylor-gabriel-retires/ |access-date=November 20, 2022 |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}}
{{clear}}
NFL career statistics
= Regular season =
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2014 | CLE
| 16 || 2 || 36 || 621 || 17.3 || 70 || 1 || 4 || 10 || 2.5 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | CLE
| 13 || 4 || 28 || 241 || 8.6 || 56 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | ATL
| 13 || 3 || 35 || 579 || 16.5 || 76T || 6 || 4 || 51 || 12.8 || 27 || 1 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | ATL
| 16 || 4 || 33 || 378 || 11.5 || 40T || 1 || 8 || 49 || 6.1 || 15 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | CHI
| 16 || 11 || 67 || 688 || 10.3 || 54 || 2 || 9 || 61 || 6.8 || 20 || 0 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | CHI
| 9 || 7 || 29 || 353 || 12.2 || 53 || 4 || 3 || 20 || 6.7 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00.htm Total] || 83 || 31 || 228 || 2,860 || 12.5 || 76T || 14 || 28 || 191 || 6.8 || 27 || 1 || 2 || 2 |
= Postseason =
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2016 | ATL
| 3 || 0 || 9 || 171 || 19.0 || 37 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | ATL
| 2 || 0 || 2 || 4 || 2.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | CHI
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 37 || 9.3 || 19 || 0 || 2 || 20 || 10.0 || 21 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GabrTa00/gamelog/post/ Total] || 6 || 1 || 15 || 212 || 14.1 || 37 || 0 || 3 || 20 || 6.7 || 21 || 0 || 1 || 0 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{footballstats|pfr=G/GabrTa00|yahoo=28234|espn=17437}}
- [http://www.acusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4340 Abilene Christian Wildcats bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabriel, Taylor}}
Category:Abilene Christian Wildcats football players
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:John Horn High School alumni
Category:Players of American football from Mesquite, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Dallas County, Texas