NFL star, who was killed while protecting his family from burglary, will be retired with a jersey number

Sean Taylor

NFL star, 24, who was killed while protecting his family from burglary, will be retired with a jersey number by WFT. Maybe this is the third time in the 89-year history of the Washington Football Team that the organization has retired a jersey number.

Sean Taylor's NFL career was shining before his life was tragically cut short in 2007.

A statement said the Washington football team pays homage to Taylor nearly 15 years after his death by retiring his late safety shirt number before Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. About 100 alumni will also be honored at FedExField.

This is only the third time the team has officially retired, with a number in its 89-year history.

The Taylor family will attend during the pre-game party, where they will also commemorate the renaming of the road to the field as the Sean Taylor Road. The family will also have the opportunity to visit Taylor's club-wide locker, which has been preserved since his last game.

The Florida native died at the age of 24 in November 2007 after being shot in the leg by a burglar in his Miami home while defending his family. Although Taylor was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, he died the following day from massive blood loss from a severed femoral artery.

The athlete was Washington's first-round pick as the fifth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. Taylor was leading them to their first playoff win in six years. In 2007, he was posthumously honored by the NFL when he was selected to the second All-Pro team before being inducted as the only 43rd member of the Washington Ring of Fame.

Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor leaves the field after being sent off in an NFL playoff game in Tampa on January 7, 2006.

"I got into the NFL the same year as Sean Taylor, and his athletic ability, resilience, determination, and uncompromising work ethic were instantly recognizable," said Washington Soccer head Jason Wright. Tragically taking it early has hurt our players' community and our fans, coaches, and staff. We will continue to remember him and set him as an example of professionalism and excellence.

The first 10,000 fans of Sunday's game will receive a limited-edition commemorative towel from Sean Taylor, inspired by the original racing towel created after Taylor's death. Full-time staff will wear the No.21 pin at the lapel on match day. Taylor will also appear on the cover of the team's Match Day magazine with an article highlighting some of the best plays of his career.

In addition, the Washington alumni will complete the Taylor's Community Service Project over the weekend at Purville Elementary School in Washington, DC, and participate in the outreach Garden Build, presented by Pepsi Stronger Together.