Leonard Taylor III, a former Miami Hurricanes standout, got a hand on a would-be game-tying field goal late in the fourth quarter Sunday as the New England Patriots held on to beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game.
With New England clinging to a three-point lead and Denver working with short field position in worsening snow, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz lined up from 45 yards, needing a make to tie it. Taylor broke through and tipped the kick at the line, turning a potential momentum swing into a huge stop for the Patriots.
Leonard Taylor III with the BLOCK! ❌🔥
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) January 25, 2026
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The block ended up being one of the defining plays in the game. New England quarterback Drake Maye threw for only 86 yards but ran for 65 and scored the Patriots' only touchdown, a 6-yard keeper that tied it 7-7 late in the first half. Maye later sealed it with a scramble on third down in the final minutes as the Patriots punched their ticket to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California.
Denver was led by QB Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury in last week's win over the Buffalo Bills. The Broncos managed 181 total yards and Stidham was picked off late by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
The Patriots elevated Taylor from the practice squad for the game. Taylor has been a recurring call-up and has earned praise from head coach Mike Vrabel during the season.
Taylor played three seasons with the Hurricanes from 2021-23 and was at his most productive in 2022, when he posted 24 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. As a true freshman in 2021, he finished with 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
After going undrafted, Taylor bounced from the New York Jets to New England, signing with the Patriots' practice squad in October 2025.