He’s a gridiron great. An all-American. A football legend, right here at home.
Billy Taylor was a star on the field for the maize and blue back in the day.
His skills both athletically and academically at the University of Michigan, made him a force to be reckoned with in college and the NFL.
Taylor was on his way to making it, a big shot in the pros, until a string of unexpected events hit Taylor like a ton of bricks.
Taylor’s mother died suddenly from a heart attack. He then, tragically lost his aunt and uncle to gun violence. A few months later his then girlfriend was fatally stabbed.
A man with a master’s degree, man who had accomplished so many amazing things, was sidelined, from a broken heart. Those unthinkable loses, sent Taylor into a tailspin of alcohol, drugs, homelessness and crime.
“Lost the jobs, lost the house, lost everything to the streets,” says Taylor.
He was down but not out.
Taylor had an epiphany on a park bench in Detroit, that moment he knew he needed to change is life around. So, he did.
Taylor has since founded an organization called “Get Back Up.” The mission is to help men gain sobriety and maintain their recovery.
Taylor has been completely sober since August 17, 1997.
Billy also hosts a radio show on 910 am called Get Back Up with Billy Taylor.
“I am 68-years-old, going on 39 and I’m blessed,” Taylor tells 7 Action News with great pride.
