Commanders Fans Shocked To Discover Sean Taylor Memorial Isn't an Actual Statue
The Washington Commanders unveiled a memorial for Sean Taylor on Sunday, the 15th anniversary of his death. The Commanders had announced they would be unveiling a "permanent memorial installation," which many people mistakenly thought meant would be a statue. If you Google "Sean Taylor statue," it's how just about every outlet covered the news last week. When the memorial was revealed today people were not impressed.
I get this wasn’t supposed to be a statue but this looks like a display you’d see in a Nike store. Nothing memorable about it. Looks like no thought or care was put into preserving the legacy of one of their most impactful and beloved players. https://t.co/vbTBShwHAm
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) November 27, 2022
To underscore how little effort Washington appears to have put into this Sean Taylor memorial: He’s wearing soccer cleats https://t.co/nRlsoveZAF
— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) November 27, 2022
Sean Taylor ‘memorial’ yet another embarrassment for Washington Commanders https://t.co/oRdxAqpLhR
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) November 27, 2022
The Commanders Once Again Try And Fail To Honor Sean Taylor - This Time By Unveiling A Mannequin "Memorial" Meant To Honor Him https://t.co/kTHpQfMEdA pic.twitter.com/1xQyTV2hds
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 27, 2022
In the Commanders' defense, they never said statue. It's always been a "permanent installation" going all the way back to June. And the full installation includes a mural. The team is wearing patches, Taylor's family is involved, and the franchise is selling limited edition merchandise with all proceeds going to gun violence prevention.
This Sunday marks the 15th Anniversary of Sean Taylor's passing 💛
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) November 22, 2022
We will honor him throughout the day ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fs5KBHcdoP
They announced this in June… #HTTC pic.twitter.com/WJaASa4y5l
— LizzLocker (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) November 27, 2022
They clearly tried this time. However, this is the Washington Commanders. And the jersey display does look like something that you would see in a clothing store. Fans clearly want Taylor honored and the franchise continues to screw it up time and again. No matter how much time, thought or care they put into it, when you unveil something that has a part that doesn't look like it got any of that, you're going to get called out. Again and again.