Landon Collins ready for the ‘definite challenge’ of filling Sean Taylor’s shoes

Landon Collins idolized Sean Taylor growing up. Now, he is ready for the “definite challenge” of filling the shoes of the former Redskins great.

There’s no doubt that Sean Taylor was one of the greatest players in Washington Redskins history. Despite a relatively short career that ended with his tragic murder during the 2007 season, he established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL and was on his way to having a Hall of Fame career.

Since Taylor’s untimely passing, the Redskins have struggled to fill the void at safety. A couple of years ago, it looked like the team had fixed the position by adding D.J. Swearinger and Montae Nicholson to the roster. However, that didn’t pan out, as Swearinger spoke out against his teammates and coaches despite being warned not to while Nicholson regressed in his second year. But after the 2019 offseason, the team is hoping they have found their future at the safety position.

The Redskins inked Landon Collins to a six-year, $84 million contract in free agency making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. Collins, just 25, is hoping to help fill the void that the team has had at safety. And while the high expectations for Collins are nothing new, he did acknowledge the “definite challenge” of bringing greatness back to the Redskins’ safety position.

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“Back in high school, I had Eric Reid who was in my school. Eddie Lacy was in my school. I had to fill these big shoes at that time,” Collins said in a recent phone interview with Riggo’s Rag. “So, filling shoes has never been a problem for me. Filling those shoes, the Sean Taylor shoes, that’s going to be a definite challenge. I’m looking forward to it and I’m up for the challenge.”

And so far at every level, Collins has been up to the challenge. He had a strong collegiate career at Alabama and turned himself into a second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2015. And with the Giants, Collins became one of the NFL’s best tacklers and hardest hitters, amassing 437 tackles in four years. Now, he’ll get a chance to bring his strong skill set to the Redskins as he has always wanted to.

Collins’ original desire coming out of Alabama was to play for the Redskins. And his inspiration, the late, great Taylor, was the main reason for that.

“When I was a rookie, that was my biggest thing. (Taylor) was my favorite player,” Collins said. “I wanted to be there. I wanted to (emulate) him. And just give hope back like he gave the Redskins hope. That was my biggest thing when I was a rookie.”

And ahead of his first season in Washington, Collins is ready to bring that same mindset to the Redskins and follow in the footsteps of his idol.

“Coming into this year, being there now, it’s kinda the same mindset (as my rookie year),” Collins said. “I’m my own person now. My own playmaker kinda person now. Knowing that my guys are there and just being there with a brotherhood that I know is going to take me in with open arms, we’re gonna play together and have fun.”

Redskins fans will certainly be encouraged to hear Collins’ attitude coming into the season. While he has big shoes to fill, that nobody has been able to fill for over a decade, he is going to do everything he can to succeed in Washington. And given that he has always wanted to play for the Redskins, he should have a chance to live up to the lofty expectations.