DENVER — The Patriots went from worst to first this season. Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III went from worst to first in-season. Taylor became a Patriots legend in the team’s AFC Championship Game win over the Broncos when he elevated off the ground and blocked a game-tying 45-yard field-goal attempt from Will Lutz with 4:46 left in regulation.<\/b>
\nThe Patriots went from worst to first this season. Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III went from worst to first in-season.
Taylor became a Patriots legend in the team\u2019s AFC Championship Game win over the Broncos when he elevated off the ground and blocked a game-tying 45-yard field-goal attempt from Will Lutz with 4:46 left in regulation.
\u201cAll I know is, we seen the ball move and then we got some knockback. Next thing I know, I just jumped in the air and I got a taste of the ball,\u201d Taylor said.
\u201cLenny T,\u201d as head coach Mike Vrabel calls him, was waived by the lowly Jets on Oct. 14. The Patriots signed him to their practice squad two days later. Two months later, Taylor earned his first opportunity, and the Patriots haven\u2019t been able to take him off the field since. He remains on the Patriots\u2019 practice squad but was a game-day elevation for Sunday\u2019s AFC title game.
After Taylor\u2019s block, the Broncos possessed the ball just one more time in a drive that ended with an interception from cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
\u201cWe just lined up and knocked the man in front of us over,\u201d Taylor said of his blocked kick. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty much it. Take his face off, for real.\u201d
Taylor has now been elevated off the practice squad in five consecutive games. He\u2019s appeared in six games total with the Patriots this season after playing in just two games with the Jets before being cut.
The second-year pro joined the Jets in 2024 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami. He was a regular contributor last season but lost favor with the Jets under new head coach Aaron Glenn.
\u201cThey didn\u2019t want me,\u201d Taylor said of the Jets. \u201cSomebody else will. I\u2019m just gonna play ball at the end of the day.\u201d
Taylor had time to reflect on his journey, going from a team that finished the 2025 season 3-14 to now playing in Super Bowl LX.
\u201cI went from a losing team to a Super Bowl team,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cSo it\u2019s pretty great. It\u2019s pretty amazing just knowing that all the hard work I put in, it\u2019s finally being noticed. It\u2019s being seen.\u201d<\/p>\n