The Washington Commanders have removed the memorial to Sean Taylor at Commanders Field and plan to erect a statue of the late safety, the team announced Saturday.

Taylor died in 2007 at the age of 24 after being shot by burglars in his home. He was in the middle of his fourth season with Washington.

In 2022, the franchise unveiled an installation honoring Taylor and received heavy criticism from fans as it was essentially a mannequin. Fans were also upset that the installation wore a Nike jersey instead of a Reebok jersey and did not have tape on the face mask like Taylor did. The team soon made these and other changes.

The Commanders also retired Taylor’s No. 21 in 2021.

In honor of 21 💛

The unveiling of the new Sean Taylor memorial pic.twitter.com/NGTH0l910u

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) 27 November 2022

Washington said in a statement on Saturday that after “careful consideration” it had decided to remove the installation because it “did not adequately do justice to one of our franchise’s most legendary players.”

“We are working with the Taylor family on a plan,” the Commanders said. “This includes unveiling a statue that will honor the legacy and impact Sean had on our organization, our fan base and our community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a world-class manner.”

Taylor’s daughter Jackie, who was just 18 months old at the time of his death, also issued a statement.

“I look forward to sharing plans in the future and learning more about my father through this process,” Jackie said. “I am forever grateful for the love and support of this special fan base.”

A message from Jackie Taylor pic.twitter.com/4AVqyf5h9n

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) 24 August 2024

A crowd favorite and formidable opponent, Taylor had 302 tackles, 12 interceptions, 41 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles in his career. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2006 and was posthumously nominated to the 2007 Pro Bowl.

(Photo: Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images)