Jonathan Taylor Wife
Meet Ayanna Taylor, formerly known as Ayanna Chapmnan! She is the lovely wife of NFL player Jonathan Taylor, the outstanding 5’10 running back for the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor previously played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers under head coach Paul Chryst.
Ayanna Taylor
Jonathan Taylor wife, Ayanna Taylor was born Ayanna Ly Chapman, on February 17, 1999, in Camden, New Jersey.She is one of the children born to Lydia and Eddie Chapman.
In addition to Ayanna, Eddie and Lydia have three older daughters; Kewanee, Alycia, and Kayla who played field hockey at Seton Hall.
Ayanna Taylor graduated from Salem High School and played midfielder on the field hockey team. She graduated fourth in her class and was named to the National Honor Society.
Subsequently, after high school, Ayanna committed to Ball University and hoped to be a lawyer. She later attended Rowan University from 2017 to 2021.
Jonathan Taylor asked Ayanna to be his wife on March 8, 2022, during a romantic dinner.
They got married on March 16, 2023.
Jonathan Taylor High School
Jonathan Taylor was born on January 19, 1999, in Salem, New Jersey, to Elizabeth Taylor and Jonathan James. His father had a background in basketball, playing for San Francisco State from 1982 to 1986. Taylor attended Salem High School, where he left an indelible mark in football, accumulating an impressive 4,642 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns throughout his high school career. His senior year was particularly notable, as he set a New Jersey record with 2,815 rushing yards, previously held by former Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement.
Taylor’s senior season statistics were exceptional, averaging 234.6 yards per game, scoring 35 rushing touchdowns, and tallying a total of 37 touchdowns. Recognized for his outstanding performance, he received the Jim Henry Award as the top high-school player across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Additionally, Taylor excelled in track and field, clinching two state titles in the 100-meter dash, with a personal best of 10.49 seconds.
Despite being initially rated as a three-star prospect and the 24th-highest-ranked running back in the 2017 class by 247Sports, Taylor’s collegiate football commitment underwent a shift. Initially choosing Rutgers University, he later altered his decision, committing to the University of Wisconsin–Madison on November 1, 2016.
Jonathan Taylor College Career
Freshman Year
Jonathan Taylor’s college career at Wisconsin began in 2017, where he emerged as a starting running back alongside Bradrick Shaw and Chris James. In his debut against Utah State, he showcased promise with 87 rushing yards and a touchdown, followed by an impressive game against Florida Atlantic, amassing 223 yards and three touchdowns. His standout performance of 249 yards against Nebraska in the fifth game thrust him into the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Taylor swiftly reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his seventh game, matching the FBS freshman record. By the end of his freshman year, he tallied 1,977 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, securing second place all-time among FBS freshmen in rushing yards. He aided the Badgers to a school-record 13 wins and an Orange Bowl victory.
Sophomore Year
Moving into his sophomore season, Taylor was lauded as a preseason All-American and lived up to the expectations, leading the FBS in rushing yards with 2,194 and attempts. Despite Wisconsin’s struggles and five regular-season losses, Taylor’s remarkable performances, including a game with 321 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Purdue, earned him the Doak Walker Award and unanimous first-team All-American honors.
Junior Year
His junior year continued the trend of excellence; Taylor excelled with over 2,000 rushing yards and became the second FBS player to achieve two 2,000-yard seasons. He received numerous accolades, including the Doak Walker Award for the second time and concluded fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. Taylor opted to forego his senior year, entering the NFL Draft and finishing his college career as the fourth all-time leading rusher in FBS history, amassing 6,174 yards.
Jonathan Taylor NFL Career
- April 24, 2020: Drafted in the second round (41st overall) by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Draft; signed rookie contract on May 15, 2020.
- 2020 Season:
- Started as the backup to Marlon Mack but assumed the starting role after Mack’s injury.
- Debut against Jacksonville Jaguars with 22 rushing yards and 67 receiving yards.
- Season highlights included a 253-yard game and 1,169 total rushing yards, ranking third in the league.
- Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month and part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
- Started as the Colts’ lead running back, showcasing impressive performances.
- Recorded several outstanding games with high rushing and receiving yards.
- Won multiple awards including AFC Offensive Player of the Month and Week, and achieved a streak of 100+ scrimmage yards and rushing touchdowns.
- Concluded the season as the leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, earning First-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
- Started strong with a 161-yard game against the Texans.
- Injured in Week 4 against the Titans, missing a game for the first time in his career.
- Returned with impactful performances, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week after a notable game against the Raiders.
- Ended the season early due to a high ankle sprain, finishing with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 11 games.
- Placed on the physically unable to perform list in August 2023.
- Activated in October 2023 and signed a three-year, $42 million extension with the Colts.
Jonathan Taylor Contract
On October 7, 2023, Jonathan Taylor agreed to a seven-year, $42 million contract extension with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal included a $10.2 million signing bonus, a $26.5 guarantee, and an annual salary of $14 million.
