Honestly, if you watch the Pro Bowl today, it’s basically a high-end slumber party with flags. Nobody wants to get hurt. Everyone is smiling. It’s a light jog in paradise. But back in 2007? One guy didn't get the memo. That guy was Sean Taylor.
When people search for the sean taylor hit pro bowl moment, they aren't looking for a box score. They're looking for the exact second a punter’s soul briefly left his body at Aloha Stadium. It was February 10, 2007. The AFC was up, things were casual, and then Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman decided to get cute with a fake punt.
Bad move.
The Collision That Defined an Era
Moorman took the snap on 4th-and-4. He’s fast—like, really fast for a punter—and he saw a seam. For a split second, it looked like he might actually move the chains. He started angling toward the right sideline, probably thinking he’d just duck out of bounds or slide once he got the first down.
Then No. 21 appeared.
Sean Taylor didn't just tackle Moorman. He erased him. It was a perfect, legal, "Boots First" form tackle that sounded like a car crash through the television speakers. The stadium went dead silent for a beat before the "Oohs" started rippling through the crowd. Taylor didn't celebrate wildly; he just stood up and walked away like he’d just finished a shift at the office.
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What Brian Moorman Said After the Blast
Most kickers would have stayed down. Most kickers would have been on a stretcher. But Moorman? The guy is a legend in his own right. He popped up after about two seconds of checking if his limbs were still attached and actually chased Taylor down.
- He didn't want to fight.
- He didn't want to complain.
- He tapped Taylor on the helmet and said, "Great hit."
Moorman later admitted that Taylor’s facemask actually left paint on his jersey. He still has that jersey framed today—front-facing—because the "21" paint and the hole ripped in the shoulder are more important to him than a clean souvenir. He calls it his "15 seconds of fame that keeps on giving."
Why the Sean Taylor Hit Pro Bowl Moment Was Different
You have to understand the context of the NFL in the mid-2000s. The league was beginning to shift toward player safety, but the "Big Hit" culture was still the heartbeat of the sport. Taylor was the poster child for that intensity. He played every single snap like the rent was due and he was three months behind.
Some fans at the time actually complained. They thought it was "too much" for an exhibition game. They argued that you don't "decleat" a punter in a game that doesn't count. But for those of us who grew up watching Taylor, that was the point. He didn't have an "off" switch.
The Legend of Area 51
Taylor and LaRone Landry eventually became "Area 51" in Washington, but that 2007 Pro Bowl was Taylor’s solo stage. He was actually an alternate that year, replacing Brian Dawkins. It’s wild to think he wasn't even the first choice, considering he led Washington with 114 tackles that season.
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Reggie Wayne, the legendary Colts receiver, has a hilarious story about that same game. He says Peyton Manning called a skinny post over the middle. Wayne saw Taylor lurking and "alligated" the catch—basically pulled his arms in because he didn't want any part of the hit. Taylor told him afterward, "You better be glad I love you."
Moorman wasn't a Miami Hurricane teammate. Moorman didn't get the "love" discount.
The Tragic Reality Behind the Tape
It’s impossible to talk about the sean taylor hit pro bowl without the heavy heart that follows. This hit happened in February 2007. By November 2007, Sean Taylor was gone.
He was murdered during a botched robbery at his home in Miami while defending his family. He was only 24.
That hit on Moorman became one of the final, defining images of his career. It captured everything he was: fast, fearless, and arguably the most physically gifted safety to ever play the game. When the 2008 Pro Bowl rolled around, the NFC defense lined up for the first play with only 10 men on the field to honor him.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Students of the Game
If you're looking back at this footage to understand why Taylor is still a "God-tier" figure in football circles, here is what you should actually look for:
- Closing Speed: Watch the highlight again. Taylor is almost 15 yards away when Moorman crosses the line of scrimmage. He closes that gap in a blink.
- The Angle: He doesn't run to where Moorman is; he runs to where Moorman is going to be. It’s a masterclass in geometry.
- The Cleanliness: Despite the violence, it wasn't a helmet-to-helmet hit. He led with the shoulder. It was a "clean" hit even by today’s much stricter standards.
If you want to keep the legacy alive, stop watching the watered-down Pro Bowl flag games and go find the raw sideline footage of the '07 game. It reminds you that for a brief window in time, the Pro Bowl actually meant something because guys like Sean Taylor refused to play it any other way.
Check out the "A Football Life" documentary on Taylor if you want the full story beyond the hits. It explains why a punter would cherish a jersey that almost cost him his ribs. Taylor wasn't a villain; he was just the last of a breed that didn't know how to give 90%.
Go find the high-definition replay of the hit on YouTube. Look for the "sideline angle" specifically. It shows the sheer velocity that the broadcast angle misses. Pay attention to the reaction of the AFC bench—even the opposing players couldn't help but jump. That’s the ultimate sign of respect in the NFL.