Taylor Gabriel: From Cleveland Cast-off to Atlanta X-Factor
Taylor Gabriel was an unexpected catalyst in Atlanta’s historic offense.
Taylor Gabriel’s NFL journey is an underdog story. From undrafted rookie wide-out with an uncertain future in the NFL to game-changing X-Factor, Gabriel is emblematic of overcoming the odds.
Jettisoned by the Cleveland Browns just a week shy of the start of the 2016 season, it was only the next day that the Falcons came calling. Kyle Shanahan, familiar with Gabriel’s skill-set as former offensive coordinator in Cleveland, lobbied Dan Quinn and the front office to bring him on-board.
Shanahan spoke to that decision with USA TODAY’s Lindsay H. Jones:
"“It was all over the tape, he did a bunch of good things in every facet of the game. I thought he had a real good preseason, so we were hoping he’d get let go. And he did, and we were fortunate that not a lot of teams claimed him.”"
Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan were intrigued by Gabriel’s unique combination of breakaway speed — he ran an unofficial 4.28 40-yard dash at his pro day in 2014 –, route-running ability, and elusiveness. With his sprightly build and shifty footwork, Gabriel could maneuver between defensive backs and create openings in man coverage. His inclusion in the game plan could provide a quick, slippery offensive piece to complement Atlanta’s two big-bodied wide receivers, Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
Taylor Gabriel’s role on the Falcons would not be clearly defined at the season’s start, but by the time he squeezed in between two Green Bay defenders and hauled in a 47-yard, sky-scraping touchdown from Matt Ryan, it was blindingly apparent that Atlanta had struck it rich.
Through the remainder of the season and throughout the playoffs, Atlanta featured Gabriel in a bevy of creative ways. He turned on the after-burners to get around the Tampa Bay defense for a touchdown on a jet sweep. He torched the Philadelphia secondary on a home run ball. He had the entire, vaunted Arizona defense playing Marco Polo as he juked his way into the end zone, twice, on quick screen passes.
By season’s end, Gabriel amassed 579 yards and tied for the team lead in touchdowns with six.
Not bad for a guy yanked off the scrap heap.
Taylor Gabriel, also known as Turbo, came from humble football beginnings, but his performance in 2016 was nothing short of amazing. The flotsam-and-jetsam that comprises the Cleveland front office did not see the game-changer in their midst, and Atlanta became the beneficiary of his diverse talents.
“I want to be a Falcon forever,” Gabriel told ESPN recently. After his 2016 performance, it’s fair to say that the Atlanta fan base wants the same thing.