Josh Harris' reign as Commanders owner has come with a series of changes. His most recent might be the most popular one, at least as far as Washington fans are concerned.
Harris and his organization opted to remove a controversial statue erected to honor Sean Taylor, the two-time Pro Bowler whose tragic and untimely death in 2007 still reverberates across the D.C. area 17 years later.
The original installation — a wire mannequin cloaked in a Washington helmet and jersey designed to look like the one Taylor sported during his professional career — was widely panned when it first was unveiled in November 2022. Detractors noted that it appeared to be cheaply made and featured a Nike jersey despite Taylor never wearing a Nike jersey. The helmet also failed to pay reference to the face tape Taylor regularly sported during his playing career.
Here's what you need to know about the Commanders' decision to take down Taylor's shrine.
MORE: Meet Jackie Taylor, the North Carolina volleyball phenom honoring her father in special way
Why are the Commanders taking down Sean Taylor's statue?
Washington appears to have heeded the concerns of countless fans who expressed outrage over the Commanders' so-called tribute to their fallen star.
“We realize that the installation fell short in honoring one of our franchise’s most iconic players,” the team said Saturday in a statement. “Together with the Taylor family, we are working on a plan, which includes unveiling a statue, that will rightfully celebrate the legacy and impact that Sean had on our organization, fanbase, and community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a first-class manner.”
The original monument looked more like it could find a home in Target or Old Navy. Although members of Taylor's family — including his daughter, Jackie — were in attendance for the structure's reveal and offered tacit support for its design, the criticism never really subsided.
“I’m thankful for Josh Harris and the Commanders family for their continued commitment to keep my dad’s legacy alive,” Jackie Taylor said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing plans in the future and learning more about my dad through this process. I’m forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this special fan base. I’m filled with gratitude to know that my dad will forever be a part of the burgundy and gold family.”
It seems Harris took note of the condemnation. A little less than two years after its release, it is coming down, set to be replaced by something befitting of Taylor's excellence on and off the field.
What happened to Sean Taylor?
Taylor was one of football's greatest talents, recording back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in his first four years. On Nov. 27, 2007, Taylor was murdered when a group of people broke into his Florida house and shot him in the leg. The bullet severed his femoral artery, leading to significant blood loss and eventual death.
The man who prosecutors said fired the gun was sentenced to more than 57 years in prison in 2014.