COCOA, Fla. — Cocoa's own Jawaan Taylor is coming off the best year of his five-season NFL career so far: starting in every game he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and finishing it off with a Super Bowl ring. The former Cocoa Tiger and Florida Gator added additional hardware on Tuesday: the key to his hometown.

What You Need To Know

  •  Jawaan Taylor was presented with the key to the City of Cocoa on Tuesday, March 26

  •  This season, Taylor won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs

  •  The Cocoa Tiger played for the University of Florida from 2016-2018 before being drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Taylor prioritizes philanthropy in his hometown of Cocoa whenever he can

Taylor was a key for the Cocoa Tigers, for the Florida Gators and as a Super Bowl champion for the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, he has a key of his own.

“In recognition of your exceptional athleticism and outrageous dedication to excellence. Your outstanding contributions, both on and off the field, embody the spirit of our community and inspire us all. Presented by Mayor Michael Blake, Cocoa City Council on this date 26 of March 2024,” said the Cocoa City Council during the ceremony.

“It means the world. It’s definitely a dream come true. Something as a kid you dream of and being able to do it and accomplish it was fun but definitely want to keep going up from here and keep making the city proud,” said Taylor, who is a Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle.

On March 26, 2024, the City of Cocoa honored Taylor in front of family friends, former coaches and teachers with a key to the city.

“Well, it means a lot. You know, every day I wake up, I make sure I support, you know, so support my family and my city,” said Taylor. “You know, I just represent them in the best way I know how each and every day that opportunity. So I take a lot of pride in it.”

His football journey began in Cocoa, but speakers, including his mother Wendy, reminded the council that the person behind the athletics with a big heart also comes from this city.

“I stand here tonight as a proud mother of a young man, that is extremely passionate, consistent, resilient and extremely humble. And take my seat. I’ll read you one of Jawaan’s favorite quotes: victory tastes sweeter when you conquer every adversity,” read Taylor’s mother, Wendy Taylor, at the podium.

Taylor says he’ll keep taking things one step at a time, as he continues helping his hometown grow.

“It’s amazing. Each and every day I wake up and it doesn’t feel real some days where, you know, it’s just so fun,” he said. “And I’ve just been enjoying every moment of it and just trying to do everything I can to continue to get better in my career and just keep making city grow.”