On September 23, 2000, while playing in only the fifth game of his college career, Taliaferro sustained a career-ending spinal cord injury while tackling tailback Jerry Westbrooks during Penn State's game versus Ohio State. Taliaferro's helmet had hit Westbrooks' knee during the tackle, bursting the fifth cervical vertebra in his neck and bruising his spinal cord.[2] Unable to control his fall, the crown of his helmet hit the turf and his body rolled awkwardly over his neck. Taliaferro was paralyzed on the hit, which left him with no movement from the neck down.
He began his well-publicized rehab at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After eight months of rehab, Taliaferro had learned to walk again. Taliaferro returned to Penn State less than a year after his injury. He led the Penn State Nittany Lions football team onto Beaver Stadium's field for the first game of the 2001 season against the Miami Hurricanes in front of a record crowd of 109,313. Taliaferro skipped, then jogged onto the field in front of an emotional Penn State crowd.[citation needed]
He remained part of the football team as a student-assistant coach under Joe Paterno. Taliaferro earned a Bachelor of Science in Labor and Industrial Relations from Penn State in 2005.
In 2001, a book was written by Sam Carchidi and Scott Brown to chronicle Taliaferro's life and recovery, entitled Miracle in the Making. Taliaferro created his own foundation to help support others with spinal cord injuries. The foundation was created in 2001, and continues to grow each year. The foundation has been said to raise over $80,000 per year for spinal cord injuries.[citation needed]
Political career
Gloucester County Freeholder
On November 8, 2011, he was elected to serve on the Gloucester CountyBoard of Chosen Freeholders.[3] A resident of Woolwich Township, he assumed office on January 6, 2012.[4] He subsequently won reelection to the Freeholder board in 2014 and served until his appointment to the General Assembly.[5]
New Jersey General Assembly
Following the resignation of Assemblywoman Celeste Riley in 2015, Taliaferro was chosen by the local Democratic committees of the 3rd district to fill the vacant seat. He was sworn in on January 29, 2015.[6] He was elected in his own right to the seat in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Taliaferro was appointed as a Deputy Majority Leader on January 9, 2018. He was also chosen to chair the Law and Public Safety Committee.
In 2021, Taliaferro and his running mates, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman John Burzichelli, were defeated by their Republican opponents.
Taliaferro enrolled at Rutgers School of Law–Camden in Camden, New Jersey. He earned his J.D. in May 2008 and worked as a lawyer at Duane Morris in the firm's Cherry Hill office for five years.[2][12] In September 2012, he joined pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb as a healthcare advocate, focusing on mental health, oncology, and HIV products.[13] Taliaferro also runs his own foundation which helps student athletes with head or spinal injuries[2] and is a motivational speaker, doing corporate appearances and speaking at schools.[citation needed]
^Kindred, David. "One amazing freshman", The Sporting News, August 27, 2001. Accessed March 17, 2011. "For three months, from October 6 past his 19th birthday on New Year's Day to January 5, Taliaferro underwent rehabilitation therapy at the Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia, 15 miles from his home in Voorhees, N.J."
^Via Associated Press. "Former Penn State footballer Adam Taliaferro gains seat as Gloucester County freeholder", The Trentonian, November 9, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2012. "Former Penn State football player Adam Taliaferro was elected to the Gloucester County Board of Freeholders last night. Taliaferro made an inspirational recovery from a paralyzing game injury 11 years ago and has now successfully been elected in New Jersey for the first time. Taliaferro ran as a Democrat."
^Romalino, Carly Q. "Freeholder-elect Taliaferro admits to pre-swearing-in jitters", Gloucester County Times, January 3, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2012. "“There are some nerves, but I am confident,” said Taliaferro, of Woolwich Township. “When I first sit down, for me, it’s finally time to do work. To have the opportunity to get started is really going to be exciting to me.”"
3.2
3.8
