Jason Taylor is in his fourth season as the Hurricanes’ defensive line coach and first as defensive co-coordinator in 2026.
Taylor helped author a dazzling turnaround for the Miami defense en route to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Miami was one of only 11 teams in all of FBS and four in Power-4 to improve its year-over-year scoring defense by double digits from 2024 to 2025. Under Hetherman’s direction, the Hurricanes ranked among the conference and national leaders in nearly every defensive category.
Rueben Bain, Jr., was recognized as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks Award winner as the nation’s top defensive end, both Bain and Akheem Mesidor were named NCAA All-Americans and 10 defensive players earned All-ACC recognition. Both Bain (No. 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Mesidor (No. 22, Los Angeles Chargers) were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and four defensive players were selected overall.
The Hurricanes finished No. 27 nationwide in total defense in FBS in 2024, allowing just 327.2 yards per game - the second-best mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
All four of Miami's starting defensive linemen earned all-conference recognition in 2024, with Simeon Barrow headlining the group at first-team All-ACC. Rueben Bain, Tyler Baron and Akheem Mesidor all earned All-ACC Honorable Mention distinction.
Miami's defense was among the nation's most improved in 2023, with a jump to No. 24 in total defense (up from No. 64 in 2022), No. 11 in rushing defense (No. 54) and No. 37 in third down defensive percentage (No. 97).
Taylor, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, served as a defensive analyst for the Hurricanes in his first season with the program in 2022.
After one of the most dominant playing careers in NFL history, Taylor began his coaching career in the high school ranks at nearby St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
Taylor was defensive line coach at St. Thomas from 2017-2019 before serving as defensive coordinator for his final two seasons (2020-21).
A former NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Miami Dolphins, Taylor was a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 – his first year of eligibility.
Taylor earned a role as a starter early in his rookie season and tallied 5.0 sacks, 50 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and three passes defensed. He logged these numbers despite missing three games due to a fractured forearm. His dominant play helped pave the way for the first of five straight postseason berths for Miami.
Taylor quickly became the anchor of the Dolphins’ tough and aggressive defense. In 1998, he recorded nine sacks and a team-high four forced fumbles).
Taylor, who led the league in sacks with 18.5 in 2002, enjoyed his finest season in 2006 when he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he terrorized offenses with 62 total tackles, a team-high 13.5 sacks, two interceptions returned for scores, 11 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
A three-time first-team All Pro (2000, 2002, 2006) recipient and a four-time All-AFC choice (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), Taylor had brief stints with the Washington Redskins (2008) and New York Jets (2010).
Taylor was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. Taylor finished his playing career with 775 career tackles, 139.5 career sacks and 46 forced fumbles.
Taylor, married to his wife Monica, has five children: Isaiah, Mason, Zoe, Jordan and Myla.