Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer, Former Cocoa Tiger Jawaan Taylor Released by Kansas City Chiefs
By Space Coast Daily // March 2, 2026
saves Chiefs approximately $20 million against the salary cap
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Former Cocoa Tigers standout and Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Jawaan Taylor has been informed by the Kansas City Chiefs that he will be released before the start of the NFL’s new league year on March 11, barring a potential trade, according to reports.
The move is part of a series of salary cap adjustments by Kansas City as the franchise works to get under the cap before the new league year begins.
Taylor’s release is expected to save the Chiefs approximately $20 million against the salary cap.
The team entered the offseason more than $57 million over the cap and has also made other roster moves to create financial flexibility.
For Cocoa and the Space Coast community, the news marks another chapter in the career of one of Brevard County’s most accomplished football products.
Taylor, 28, has long been a source of pride for Cocoa High School and local football fans. A dominant force on the offensive line for the Cocoa Tigers, he went on to star at the University of Florida before becoming a second-round NFL Draft pick in 2019. His journey from Cocoa to the professional ranks earned him induction into the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the area’s elite athletes.
In 2023, Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million free-agent contract with Kansas City and quickly became a key piece of the offensive line. That season, he helped protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs captured another Super Bowl title, becoming the NFL’s first repeat champion in 20 years.
While Taylor proved to be a productive pass blocker during his time in Kansas City, penalties became a challenge.
Over 45 games with the Chiefs, he was flagged 49 times (41 accepted), the most of any NFL lineman during that span.
Despite the release, Taylor’s résumé remains strong. With multiple seasons of starting experience and a Super Bowl championship to his name, he is expected to draw interest from teams seeking a veteran right tackle.
Back home in Cocoa, Taylor’s impact extends far beyond the field. Young athletes across Brevard County continue to look up to the former Tiger who rose from Friday night lights at Dick Blake Stadium to football’s biggest stage.
