DENVER, Colorado — In October, Leonard Taylor had no idea what was next for him after the New York Jets waived him. He had signed with them as an undrafted free agent before the 2024 season, but in his second year, he was released.
That's when the New England Patriots swooped in.
Just two days later, he received a call and was signed to the Patriots' practice squad. From there, he continued to develop and has been a steady presence throughout the playoffs, being elevated for every single game thus far.
"This journey on this team has been amazing. I got cut from the Jets my second year in the league, so it was a lot for me. I really just had to change something at the end of the day. Change my mindset, how I look at the game," he exclusively told Patriots Wire after the game, detailing more about what he specifically changed. "Just how I look at football. I got a better understanding. Like, nobody's safe in this game at the end of the day. Just got to do your job, no matter what."
And with that, it seems getting cut by the Jets was for the best, going from a team at the bottom of the AFC East to one at the top.
"I left a losing organization and came to a winning one," he said. "And just seeing the culture and the differences in the organization. Just seeing what it takes to be a winner, what it takes to be that guy on the field. And this is my second year in the league, and I'm going to a Super Bowl. That's amazing. So I'm very thankful for it, very thankful for the opportunity that coach has been giving me. Just continue to do what I've been doing."
In what was arguably the biggest play of Sunday's AFC Championship, Taylor tipped the ball on Wil Lutz's 45-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game. Instead, he made sure the Patriots kept the lead.
"We got the field goal block alert. I was lined up next to my boy Cory (Durden), fellow D-tackle. We really just lined up, tightened our alignment down for real, and we just got off the ball at the same time. I just felt him go backwards, and I jumped in the air. Then I got a piece of the ball. So that was an amazing feeling. Once I saw it missed, I jumped right to the sidelines with excitement. I know I did something to help the team."
And waiting for him on the sideline was the guy that had faith in him since he joined the Patriots.
"Coach Vrabes was already waiting right there with his hand out. So I got to clap up Coach Vrabes first. It was pretty exciting for me."
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: From practice squad to AFC Championship hero: Leonard Taylor's journey