Trent Taylor

Trent Taylor

Taylor with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017
No. 81 – San Francisco 49ers
Position	Wide receiver
Roster status	Active
Personal information
Born	(1994-04-30) April 30, 1994 (age 31) Cookeville, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school	Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, Louisiana)
College	Louisiana Tech (2013–2016)
NFL draft	2017: 5th round, 177th overall pick
Career history
San Francisco 49ers (2017–2020) Cincinnati Bengals (2021–2022) Chicago Bears (2023) San Francisco 49ers (2024–present)
Awards and highlights
First-team All-C-USA (2015, 2016) Second-team All-C-USA (2014)
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Receptions 88 Receiving yards 845 Return yards 1,157 Total touchdowns 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Trent Nelson Taylor (born April 30, 1994) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Taylor also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears.

Early life

Taylor attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he played high school football for the Eagles. ^[1] As a junior, Taylor had 65 receptions for 1,075 yards and 18 touchdowns, and as a senior, he had 107 receptions for 1,650 yards and 20 touchdowns. ^[2] Taylor committed to Louisiana Tech University to play college football. ^[3]

College career

Taylor (right) scoring a touchdown for Louisiana Tech in the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl

Taylor attended Louisiana Tech from 2013 to 2016. ^{[4] [5]} During his career, Taylor had 327 receptions for 4,179 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 327 receptions were a school record. ^[6] In his final collegiate game, Taylor was named the MVP of the 2016 Armed Forces Bowl after recording 12 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns. ^[7]

College statistics

See also: NCAA Division I FBS receiving leaders and List of NCAA major college football yearly receiving leaders

Legend
	Led NCAA Division I FBS
Bold	Career high

Season	Games		Receiving				Punt returns
	GP	GS	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD	Att	Yards	Avg	TD
2013	12	0	28	260	9.3	2	6	53	8.8	0
2014	14	9	64	834	13.0	9	22	168	7.6	0
2015	13	12	99	1,282	12.9	9	13	83	6.4	0
2016	14	14	136	1,803	13.3	12	17	178	10.5	0
Career	53	35	327	4,179	12.8	32	58	482	8.3	0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	Wingspan	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	28+3⁄4 in (0.73 m)	8+1⁄4 in (0.21 m)	5 ft 8+5⁄8 in (1.74 m)	4.63 s	1.58 s	2.67 s	4.01 s	6.74 s	33.0 in (0.84 m)	9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)	13 reps
All values from NFL Combine [8] [9] [10]

San Francisco 49ers (first stint)

The San Francisco 49ers selected Taylor in the fifth round (177th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. ^[11]

Taylor made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Carolina Panthers and had an eight-yard reception in the 23–3 loss. ^[12] Two weeks later against the Los Angeles Rams, he scored his first career touchdown on a three-yard pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer in the fourth quarter of the narrow 41–39 loss. ^[13] Taylor finished his rookie season with 43 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns. ^[14]

In the 2018 season, Taylor had 26 receptions for 215 yards and a touchdown, which came in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. ^[15]

On September 20, 2019, Taylor was placed on injured reserve after suffering a setback from offseason foot surgery. ^[16]

In the first game of 2020 and Taylor's first game since 2018, he caught two passes for seven yards and returned two punts for 21 yards as the 49ers lost 24–20 to the Arizona Cardinals. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the 49ers on December 23, 2020, ^[17] and activated on January 6, 2021. ^[18] In the 2020 season, Taylor appeared in 12 games and started one, playing on offense and contributed on punt return duties. ^[19]

Cincinnati Bengals

On May 17, 2021, Taylor signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. ^[20] He was waived on August 31, ^[21] but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. ^[22] He finished the regular season with two receptions for 41 yards and 11 returns for 120 yards. ^[23] On January 29, 2022, Taylor was promoted to the active roster for the AFC Championship Game. ^[24] He caught a pass from Joe Burrow for a two-point conversion, tying the game at 21 in a game the Bengals went on to win 27–24, securing the Bengals' first Super Bowl appearance since Super Bowl XXIII in 1988. ^[25]

On February 22, 2022, Taylor re-signed with the Bengals. ^[26] He began the 2022 season as the Bengals' primary punt returner along with being the team's backup slot receiver to starter Tyler Boyd. On the season, Taylor returned 33 punts for 340 total yards. ^[27]

Taylor re-signed with the Bengals on one-year contract on March 27, 2023. ^[28] He was released during final roster cuts August 29. ^[29]

Chicago Bears

Taylor signed with the Chicago Bears on August 31, 2023. ^[30] He played in all 17 games for Chicago, recording two targets and no receptions while working primarily as a punt returner (in which he logged 8.2 yards per return). ^[31]

San Francisco 49ers (second stint)

On April 16, 2024, Taylor signed a one-year contract to return to the San Francisco 49ers. ^[32] He was released on August 27, ^[33] but was re-signed to the practice squad the next day. ^[34]

Taylor signed a reserve/future contract with San Francisco on January 6, 2025. ^[35] On June 3, the 49ers placed Taylor on injured reserve, ruling him him out for the season. ^[36]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing					Kick returns					Punt returns					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2017	SF	15	1	43	430	10.0	33	2	–	–	–	–	–	1	18	18.0	8	0	30	281	9.4	39	0	1	1
2018	SF	14	0	26	215	8.3	23	1	–	–	–	–	–	1	15	15.0	15	0	10	78	7.8	18	0	1	0
2020	SF	12	1	10	86	8.6	29	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	9	112	12.4	20	0	0	0
2021	CIN	4	0	2	41	20.5	26	0	–	–	–	–	–	4	68	17.0	25	0	7	52	7.4	12	0	0	0
2022	CIN	16	1	6	62	10.3	34	0	4	15	3.8	9	0	2	15	7.5	9	0	33	340	10.3	27	0	2	2
2023	CHI	17	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	−2	−2.0	−2	0	–	–	–	–	–	23	188	8.2	31	0	2	1
Career		78	3	87	834	9.6	34	3	5	13	2.6	9	0	8	106	13.3	25	0	112	1,051	9.4	39	0	10	4

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Kick returns					Punt returns					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2021	CIN	4	0	–	–	–	–	–	6	76	12.7	20	0	0	0
2022	CIN	3	0	1	18	18.0	18	0	5	39	7.8	14	0	1	1
Career		7	0	1	18	18.0	18	0	11	115	10.5	20	0	1	1

References

1. Watson, Jimmy (November 5, 2014). "La. Tech's Trent Taylor was nearly overlooked". The News Star. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
2. Isabella, Sean (August 3, 2016). "La. Tech's Trent Taylor gets rave reviews". Shreveport Times. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
3. "Trent Taylor Timeline Events". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
4. Isabella, Sean (October 6, 2015). "La. Tech's Trent Taylor making defenses pay". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
5. Watson, Jimmy (August 30, 2015). "La. Tech's Trent Taylor fine tunes abilities". Shreveport Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
6. Isabella, Sean (October 30, 2016). "Trent Taylor relishes record with Tech teammates". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
7. Cesak, Brad; Owens, Tim (December 27, 2016). "Taylor's record setting day leads La Tech to Armed Forces Bowl Victory".
8. "Trent Taylor Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
9. "2017 Draft Scout Trent Taylor, Louisiana Tech NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
10. "Trent Taylor 2017 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
11. Fann, Joe (April 29, 2017). "San Francisco 49ers Draft Louisiana Tech WR Trent Taylor". 49ers.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
12. "Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers – September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved October 7, 2017.
13. "Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – September 21st, 2017". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved November 5, 2017.
14. "Trent Taylor 2017 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved November 1, 2018.
15. "Trent Taylor 2018 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 17, 2024.
16. "49ers Sign T Sam Young; Place WR Trent Taylor on Injured Reserve". 49ers.com. September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
17. "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
18. "49ers' Trent Taylor: Back from COVID-19 list". CBSSports.com. January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
19. "Trent Taylor 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 17, 2024.
20. Rapien, James (May 17, 2021). "The Bengals Are Bringing in a Veteran Wide Receiver Following Workout". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
21. "Bengals Reduce 2021 Roster To 53 Players". Bengals.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
22. "Bengals Make Player Moves, Sign 15 To The Practice Squad". Bengals.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
23. "Trent Taylor 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 17, 2024.
24. "Trent Taylor, Damion Square Elevated To Active Roster". Bengals.com. January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
25. Zucker, Joseph (January 30, 2022). "Joe Burrow, Bengals Stun Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs in OT, Advance to 2022 Super Bowl". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
26. "Bengals Sign Taylor to Offseason Roster". Bengals.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
27. "Trent Taylor 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 17, 2024.
28. "Bengals Re-Sign Trent Taylor". Bengals.com. March 27, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
29. "Bengals Reduce Roster to 53 Players for 2023 Season". Bengals.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
30. Mayer, Larry; Meyers, Kevin (August 31, 2023). "Roster Moves: Bears sign Peterman and Taylor, add four to practice squad, place Jenkins and Kramer on IR". ChicagoBears.com.
31. "Trent Taylor 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 17, 2024.
32. "49ers Sign WR Trent Taylor to a One-Year Deal". 49ers.com. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
33. "49ers Announce Moves for Initial 53-Man Roster of 2024". 49ers.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
34. "49ers Announce Practice Squad Moves". 49ers.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
35. "49ers Sign WR Trent Taylor, TE Mason Pline and Nine Others to Reserve/Future Contracts". 49ers.com. January 6, 2025.
36. "49ers Sign WR Malik Knowles, Place WR Trent Taylor on IR, and Other Roster Moves". 49ers.com. June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.

External links

• Career statistics from NFL.com  ·  ESPN  ·  Yahoo Sports
• San Francisco 49ers bio
• Louisiana Tech Bulldogs bio