When asked to name some of his favorite former NFL players, Washington Commanders rookie linebacker Sonny Styles listed several household names including Hall of Fame linebackers Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis and Kam Chancellor, former safety of the “Legon of Boom” Seahawks.
The first player Styles mentioned, however, was someone who made a lasting impact on the franchise and the NFL despite having his life cut short at the age of 24.
“When I was younger, I loved watching Sean Taylor’s YouTube videos,” Styles said in an interview with CBS Sports while promoting his TheraBreath collaboration “Ready. Fresh. Go.” campaign. “I don’t know why, I just had this obsession with YouTube videos, 30 in 30, and just watching how violent he was playing this game.”
Styles has no doubt seen the video of Taylor taming the punter at some point the Pro Bowla clip that perfectly encapsulates the level of intensity that Taylor plays with every time he steps on the football field.
Like Style, Taylor was a top-10 player who was a key player on a national championship-winning team. Taylor, who was part of a Miami Hurricanes team loaded with future NFL talent, made an immediate impact when he arrived in Washington.
Despite being just 21 years old, Taylor started 13 games as a rookie and filled the stat sheet with four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 15 pass breakups. His sophomore season included a key scoring return while helping Washington win its first playoff game in six years.
Taylor earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2006 after setting career highs in forced fumbles and 114 tackles. He had five innings during the first nine games of the 2007 season before being killed in a home run. Taylor was named to his death in the Pro Bowl that season. The Commanders retired his number 21 in 2021 and plan to build a statue in his name.
Taylor’s strength on the football field inspired a generation of future football players, Styles said.
“I was looking at all the 30-for-30s that were on ESPN that day, always trying to find Sean Taylor’s,” he said. “That was my favorite person to watch. Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis were two of my favorite guys to watch. Growing up, they always seemed cool to me, the way they played the game, which was violent, obviously. They seemed like bad guys when they were out there.”
With the Commanders, Styles hopes to have a similar personality while embracing coach Dan Quinn’s philosophy.
“We talk a lot about this BMF identity: Bad IM-F’er,” Styles said. “And I love it. It’s like this mentality of, ‘I’m unstoppable,’ basically. I’ve never had that approach of being like, ‘This is our team identity.’ You always hear, like, ‘Working hard,’ all these different things. … So, I like that way. I mean, that’s how you have to play the game, especially in my position.
“It’s a violent game, so if you don’t have that mentality, it’s probably not going to be a good day for you. That’s what I’m learning from coach Quinn.”
It’s no surprise that Styles grew up watching NFL legends on YouTube. After all, he is the son of former NFL player Lorenzo Styles Sr., who in 1999 won the Super Bowl as a member of the Rams.
He and his brother, Saints rookie Lorenzo Styles Jr., grew up in Pickerington, Ohio, a football-crazy place less than half an hour from Ohio State. The Styles brothers played for Ohio high school coach Jay Sharrett at Pickerington Central.
Styles’ first high school game was against rival Pickerington North in a game televised on ESPN2. While the pregame hype focused on then-Pickerington North standout Jack Sawyer (who did not play in that game after committing early to Ohio State), Styles stole the headlines once the ball was kicked. He had nine tackles, an interception and a blocked punt while leading Central to the victory.
Styles’ performance that day made an impression on Ohio State, which earned him his first college offer after that game. Before going to Ohio State, however, Styles won a basketball state championship in high school while playing alongside former Ohio State and current Villanova forward Devin Royal.
With the Buccaneers, Styles blossomed as a versatile defender who began his college career at safety before moving to linebacker. He won a national title in 2024 while playing with his brother and Sawyer, who is preparing for his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Styles flourished under the tutelage of Ryan Day, who introduced Styles to a new way of thinking as it relates to the athlete’s mental and well-being.
“We used to be like this red line before you walk on the field out on the grass fields, and we used to say, ‘Once you cross the red line, the game doesn’t matter. Whatever happens in your life, good, bad or indifferent, the game doesn’t matter,'” Styles recalled. “You have to clear your mind and go out and play because the game doesn’t matter.
“But (Suku) was also very big on mental health. He used to say, ‘If you come back across that red line, your brothers are there and your people are there to love you, take care of you, be there for you.’
After winning championships at the high school and college levels, Styles hopes to have similar success with the Commanders, who underwent significant roster changes this season after a tumultuous 2025 season. Style said that the Commanders’ defense, which will include many new players this season, has started building chemistry.
“I think all the boys are doing well,” he said. “We actually had a little huddle in the corner this week. Everybody likes each other. It’s funny, there’s a lot of trash-talking stuff like that, just hanging out. But I think, the more we play together as the year goes on, I think you’re going to see a brotherhood out there on the field, because I can already see it in practice. There’s a lot of good defense, so it’s just against new faces.”
As for his NFL goals, Styles wants to help the Commanders capture their first title since 1991, the third and final Super Bowl won under Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, who coached Taylor during his second tenure in Washington. And while the 2025 season was a disappointment, Washington is just two years removed from its first NFC title game appearance since the ’91 season.
“I’m chasing the Super Bowl,” Styles said. “That’s like a temporary goal, trying to help the team win.
“Long term, obviously, I want to have more Super Bowls, I want to be in the Hall of Fame, and all these things, but I’m taking it day by day. Right now, I’m just trying to get playing time, earn a role and help the team win.”
In addition to preparing for his rookie season, Styles is excited to continue his partnership with TheraBreath.
“I’ve been using TheraBreath for a long time,” he said. “It’s a really easy brand to work with. … I think the best thing about being an athlete is when you get to work with brands that you love and enjoy using. It’s been fun.”
