the Washington commanders have announced plans to replace the controversial Memorial dedicated to the late Shawn Taylor with a new Statue marking a significant step in honoring one of the franchise's most beloved players the original installation which was revealed in November 2022 at the team's Landover Stadium faced widespread criticism for its perceived lack of authenticity and respect in response the team now under new ownership is committed to creating a tribute that properly reflects Taylor Legacy and the impact he had on the team its fans and the community the initial Memorial which consisted of a wire mannequin dressed in Taylor's uniform was intended to celebrate the former safety's contributions to the commanders however it quickly Drew backlash from fans and critics alike the display was criticized for several inaccuracies including the use of a Nike jersey despite Nike not becoming the NFL's uniform provider until 2012 and the omission of Taylor's signature face mask taping while while members of Taylor's family including his daughter Jackie were present at the unveiling and expressed their approval the overall response from the public was overwhelmingly negative do I in light of the criticism the commanders made adjustments to the memorial but these changes did little to quell the dissatisfaction the new ownership group led by Josh Harris recognized the need for a more fitting tribute and began working closely with the Taylor family to develop a plan for a new Statue the team's goal is to ensure that the new Memorial accurately honors Taylor's Legacy in manner befitting one of the most iconic players in the franchise's history we realized that the installation fell short in honoring one of our franchise's most iconic players the commander stated on Saturday together with the Taylor family we are working on a plan which includes unveiling a statue that will rightfully celebrate the Legacy and impact that Shawn had on our organization fan base and Community the Washington commanders are committed to honoring our Legends in a first class manner the new Statue which will be designed with the input of Taylor's family is intended to be a portable tribute that can move with the team to their next Stadium ensuring that Taylor's Memory Remains a central part of the Commander's future regardless of location Jackie Taylor expressed her gratitude for the team's efforts stating I'm thankful for Josh Harris and the commander family for their continued commitment to keep my dad's Legacy alive I'm forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this special fan base in addition to the new Statue the Commander's ownership group has invested over $75 million into various Stadium upgrades aimed at enhancing The Fan Experience these improvements include a new premium suite called the tunnel Club a revamped sound system and modernized security and Food Services all of which contribute to the team's ongoing efforts to honor their past while looking towards the future