Tory Taylor

Taylor was born in Melbourne, Australia and attended high school at Haileybury.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Chloe |date=14 September 2022 |title='The people that I play for': Punter Tory Taylor's family visits U.S. to watch Iowa football |url=https://dailyiowan.com/2022/09/14/the-people-that-i-play-for-punter-tory-taylors-family-visits-u-s-to-watch-iowa-football/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924103800/https://dailyiowan.com/2022/09/14/the-people-that-i-play-for-punter-tory-taylors-family-visits-u-s-to-watch-iowa-football/ |archive-date=24 September 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=The Daily Iowan}}{{Cite web |last=Hlas |first=Mike |date=19 October 2023 |title=It may seem hard to believe, but Tory Taylor has become best Hawkeye punter ever |url=https://www.thegazette.com/sports/it-may-seem-hard-to-believe-but-tory-taylor-has-become-best-hawkeye-punter-ever/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028174327/https://www.thegazette.com/sports/it-may-seem-hard-to-believe-but-tory-taylor-has-become-best-hawkeye-punter-ever/ |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=The Gazette}} Although he played Australian rules football growing up and was unfamiliar with its American counterpart, he became interested in the sport and attended clinics at Prokick Australia to try it out.{{cite news|last=Bohnenkamp|first=John|url=https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=2395|title=Iowa Punter Tory Taylor Reflects on Record-Setting Career|publisher=University of Iowa Center for Advancement|date=19 December 2023|access-date=6 January 2025}} Prokick's founders Nathan Chapman and John Smith recommended Taylor to the University of Iowa's special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, who recruited him to play college football.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Andrew|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-how-australian-punter-tory-taylor-made-college-football-history-profile-background-scouting-report-iowa-hawkeyes/news-story/03d5cd59db5d624a55c5678463154c47|title=How Tory Taylor went from unknown Aussie punter to 'revered' college football cult hero as NFL dream realised|publisher=Fox Sports (Australia)|date=29 April 2024|access-date=6 January 2025}}

File:Tory Taylor (53374068004) (cropped).jpg]]

In Taylor's first college season in 2020, he punted 40 times for 1,765 yards, with 18 punts being down within their opponents' 20 yard line.{{cite web |title=Tory Taylor 2020 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2020/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=23 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028171339/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2020/ |url-status=live }} For his performance on the year, Taylor was named the Big Ten Conference's Punter of the Year, along with being named first team All-Big Ten.{{Cite web |last=Hanson |first=Austin |date=17 December 2020 |title=Freshman Tory Taylor named Big Ten Punter of the Year |url=https://dailyiowan.com/2020/12/17/freshman-tory-taylor-named-big-ten-punter-of-the-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101122732/https://dailyiowan.com/2020/12/17/freshman-tory-taylor-named-big-ten-punter-of-the-year/ |archive-date=1 November 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=The Daily Iowan}}{{cite magazine |title=Tory Taylor Nabs B1G Honor |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-pow |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=13 September 2021 |access-date=23 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172130/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-pow |url-status=live }} In the 2021 season, Taylor punted 80 times for 3,688 yards, along with 38 punts being downed within their opponents' 20 yard line.{{cite web |title=Tory Taylor 2021 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2021/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=23 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028174327/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2021/ |url-status=live }}

In week one of the 2022 season, Taylor punted ten times for 479 yards with seven punts downed inside the 20, as he helped the Hawkeyes beat South Dakota State; he was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.{{cite magazine |title=Tory Taylor B1G Special Team Player of Week |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-b1g-special-team-player-of-week |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=5 September 2022 |access-date=23 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028172130/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-b1g-special-team-player-of-week |url-status=live }} In the following week, Taylor would punt six times for 304 yards with two punts being downed within the 20 yard line, but Iowa would lose to rival Iowa State.{{Cite magazine |last=Bohnenkamp |first=John |date=8 September 2023 |title=Tory Taylor Looking Forward to Iowa State |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-looking-forward-to-iowa-state |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028173653/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-looking-forward-to-iowa-state |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} Taylor finished the 2022 season with 82 punts for 3,725 yards, along with 38 punts inside the 20 yard line.{{cite web |title=Tory Taylor 2022 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2022/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028171810/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tory-taylor-1/gamelog/2022/ |url-status=live }} For his performance on the season, Taylor was named first team All-Big Ten by the media, and third team All-Big Ten by the coaches.{{Cite web |last=Helmer |first=Josh |date=29 November 2022 |title=Iowa Hawkeyes' Tory Taylor, Drew Stevens honored as members of All-Big Ten teams |url=https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/29/iowa-football-hawkeyes-tory-taylor-drew-stevens-named-all-big-ten-members/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028173722/https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/29/iowa-football-hawkeyes-tory-taylor-drew-stevens-named-all-big-ten-members/ |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |website=Hawkeyes Wire|publisher=USA Today}} Taylor was also named first team All-American.{{cite magazine |title=Jack Campbell, Tory Taylor FWAA 1st-Team All-Americans |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/jack-campbell-tory-taylor-fwaa-1st-team-all-americans |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=9 December 2022 |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028173721/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/jack-campbell-tory-taylor-fwaa-1st-team-all-americans |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Bohnenkamp |first=John |date=19 July 2023 |title=Tory Taylor Fine-Tuning His Game |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-fine-tuning-his-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128235147/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-fine-tuning-his-game |archive-date=28 November 2023 |access-date=9 June 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}

Instead of declaring for the 2023 NFL draft, Taylor decided to return for the season.{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Chloe |date=31 December 2022 |title=Iowa football punter Tory Taylor announces return for fourth season |url=https://dailyiowan.com/2022/12/31/iowa-football-punter-tory-taylor-announces-return-for-fourth-season/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128235147/https://dailyiowan.com/2022/12/31/iowa-football-punter-tory-taylor-announces-return-for-fourth-season/ |archive-date=28 November 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |website=The Daily Iowan}} In week six of the 2023 season, Taylor punted six times for 284 yards, with two of his punts landing within their opponents' 20 yard line, as he helped the Hawkeyes win their homecoming game beating Purdue 20–14. For his performance, Taylor would be named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.{{cite magazine |title=Tory Taylor B1G ST Player of Week |url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-b1g-st-player-of-week |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=9 October 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014225555/https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/tory-taylor-b1g-st-player-of-week |url-status=live }} In the following week, Taylor would punt ten times for 506 yards, while six of his punts would be downed within the 20 yard line, as he helped Iowa beat Wisconsin.{{cite web |title=Punter Tory Taylor was MVP of game for Iowa in win over Wisconsin |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/10/14/led-by-punter-tory-taylor-iowa-wins-special-teams-battle-vs-wisconsin/71192076007/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228145435/https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/10/14/led-by-punter-tory-taylor-iowa-wins-special-teams-battle-vs-wisconsin/71192076007/ |url-status=live }} For his performance, Taylor would be named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, in back to back weeks.{{cite web |title=Tory Taylor named Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/amp/news/local/tory-taylor-named-big-ten-co-special-teams-player-of-the-week |website=CBS2 |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030011733/https://cbs2iowa.com/amp/news/local/tory-taylor-named-big-ten-co-special-teams-player-of-the-week |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jaster |first=Ryan M. |date=16 October 2023 |title=Hawkeyes' Tory Taylor earns back-to-back Big Ten special teams honors |url=https://who13.com/news/hawkeyes-tory-taylor-earns-back-to-back-big-ten-special-teams-honors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022013504/https://who13.com/news/hawkeyes-tory-taylor-earns-back-to-back-big-ten-special-teams-honors/ |archive-date=22 October 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |website=WHO13.com}} In the 2024 Citrus Bowl, Taylor broke the NCAA record for most punting yards in a season, with 4,479 yards. The feat bested the previous of record of 4,138, set 85 years prior by John Fingel.{{Cite web |last=Hornstein |first=Blake |date=2 January 2024 |title=Hawkeyes' Tory Taylor breaks NCAA single-season punting record |url=https://who13.com/news/hawkeyes-tory-taylor-breaks-ncaa-single-season-punting-record/ |access-date=4 January 2024 |website=who13.com |language=en}}

Despite his position, Taylor was widely credited with helping Iowa remain competitive amid anemic performances by the offense. His punts regularly pinned the receiving team deep on their own side of the field, which allowed Iowa's top-ranking defense to prevent their opponent from scoring and keep games close. In 2023, the offense averaged 16.6 points per game (fourth worst in the country) but went 10–3 with the majority of the wins coming in what USA Today writer Craig Meyer described as "low-scoring games in which the fight for field position was paramount."{{cite news|last=Meyer|first=Craig|url=https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/2024/01/01/tory-taylor-punting-yards-record-single-season-iowa-football-citrus-bowl-tennessee/72019517007/|title=Tory Taylor punting record: Iowa star punter breaks NCAA single-season yards record|publisher=Hawk Central|newspaper=USA Today|date=1 January 2024|access-date=6 January 2025}} His total punting yardage that year also exceeded the 3,296 recorded by Iowa's offense as well as 33 other schools.{{cite news|last=Truax|first=Barkley|url=https://www.on3.com/college/iowa-hawkeyes/news/tory-taylor-details-impact-levar-woods-has-had-on-his-career/|title=Tory Taylor details impact LeVar Woods has had on his career|publisher=On3|date=6 February 2024|access-date=6 January 2025}}

For his contributions in 2023, he received the Ray Guy Award for the best punter in the country, was named a unanimous first-team All-American, and became the only multi-time winner of the Big Ten Punter of the Year.{{cite news|last=Feder|first=Curtis|url=https://cbs2iowa.com/sports/cbs2-local-sports/tory-taylor-wins-the-2023-ray-guy-award|title=Tory Taylor wins the 2023 Ray Guy Award|publisher=KGAN|date=8 December 2023|access-date=6 January 2025}}{{cite news|last=Steppe|first=John|url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/iowas-cooper-dejean-tory-taylor-earn-unanimous-all-america-status/|title=Iowa's Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor earn unanimous All-America status|newspaper=The Gazette|date=14 December 2023|access-date=6 January 2025}} A coach also gave Taylor a first-place vote for that season's Chicago Tribune Silver Football, given to the best player in the Big Ten as voted upon by coaches.{{cite magazine|last=Casselberry|first=Ian|url=https://www.si.com/college/2023/12/14/iowa-punter-tory-taylor-big-ten-best-player-one-coach-voted|title=One Coach Voted for Iowa Punter Tory Taylor As Big Ten's Best Player|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=14 December 2023|access-date=6 January 2025}}

Taylor ended his career with the FBS record for most average yards per punt at 46.3. He also led the subdivision in punts within the 20-yard line in his final three years.{{cite news|last=Infante|first=Jacob|url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2024/4/27/24142791/2024-nfl-draft-chicago-bears-tory-taylor-iowa-punter-film-study-scouting-report-day-3|title=Film study: New Bears P Tory Taylor a certified difference-maker|website=Windy City Gridiron|publisher=SB Nation|date=27 April 2024|access-date=6 January 2025}}

File:Tory Taylor Bears pre-game 2 49ers 2024.jpg

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3 7/8

| weight = 223

| arm span = 32 1/8

| hand span = 9

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tory-taylor/32005441-5975-2367-ed49-a9dcc28c40dd |title=Tory Taylor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=28 March 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052333&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Tory Taylor College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=28 March 2024}}

}}

Taylor was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2024 NFL draft, making him the highest punter selected since 2019 and the highest by the team since Todd Sauerbrun was picked in the second round in 1995.{{Cite web |last=Adame |first=Anthony |date=27 April 2024 |title=Highest Drafted Punters in NFL History After Bears Spend 4th-Rounder On Tory Taylor |url=https://www.givemesport.com/highest-drafted-punters-nfl-history/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}} He was also selected by the BC Lions 15th overall in the 2024 CFL global draft.{{cite press release|url=https://www.bclions.com/2024/04/30/lions-grab-k-p-carl-meyer-p-tory-taylor-in-global-draft/|publisher=BC Lions|title=Lions Grab K/P Carl Meyer & P Tory Taylor In Global Draft|date=30 April 2024|first=Matt|last=Baker}} He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Bears on 11 May 2024.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Ryan |date=11 May 2024 |title=Bears sign rookie punter Tory Taylor to a four-year contract |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-sign-rookie-punter-tory-212731891.html |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Yahoo! Sports |language=en-US}}

In Week 4 of the 2024 season against the Los Angeles Rams, Taylor pinned three of his five punts inside the 10-yard line.{{cite web|title=Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Lions QB Jared Goff highlight Players of the Week|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2024-week-4-derrick-henry-jared-goff|author=Gordon, Grant|website=NFL.com|date=October 2, 2024}} His role pinned the Rams and helped the Bears' "takeaway-crazed" defense seal the 24–18 win: Taylor's final punt with 1:13 remaining placed the Los Angeles offense at their own 8, meaning they would have needed to drive 92 yards to score the tying touchdown, but it ended with an interception.{{cite news|last=Jahns|first=Adam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5807301/2024/10/01/bears-punter-tory-taylor/|title=Rookie punter Tory Taylor showing why the Bears wanted him and his bag of tricks|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 October 2024|access-date=6 January 2025|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay/_/gameId/401671871|title=Bears 24-18 Rams (Sep 29, 2024) Play-by-Play|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|access-date=6 January 2025}} Taylor earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

He is a supporter of the Australian Football League's Collingwood Football Club and A-League soccer club Melbourne City FC.

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{{footballstats|yahoo=41004|espn=4686889|nfl=tory-taylor}}

• [https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/tory-taylor/ Chicago Bears bio]
• [https://hawkeyesports.com/roster/tory-taylor/ Iowa Hawkeyes bio]

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{{Ray Guy Award}}

{{2023 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Tory}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian players of American football

Category:American football punters

Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players

Category:Chicago Bears players

Category:Sportspeople from Melbourne

Category:All-American college football players

Category:People educated at Haileybury (Melbourne)