Davie, Fla. • Linebacker Jason Taylor walked across the locker room brushing his teeth, then ducked into the equipment room to rinse and spit. Minutes later he tried to muster a smile for a cluster of TV cameras.

It was time to call it quits.

The NFL’s active sacks leader said he’ll retire after this season, his 15th in the NFL and his 13th with the Miami Dolphins. Taylor has contemplated retirement in years past only to be lured back, but now he insists his mind’s made up.

“Sunday’s my last game,” he said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t reach me.”

The 37-year-old Taylor, who made the announcement following practice Wednesday, ranks sixth all-time with 139½ sacks. He has six fumble returns for touchdowns, an NFL record.

He’ll conclude his career Sunday against the New York Jets. It’ll be his 204th game with the Dolphins, which ranks second to Dan Marino’s 242.

“His contributions on the field as one of the greatest players in team history will be remembered by Dolphins fans for years to come,” owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “He will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

Taylor has had three stints with the Dolphins, who drafted him in the third round in 1997. He also played for the Redskins in 2008 and the Jets in 2010.

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“In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively. I’m proud that I had a chance to coach him.”

Taylor helped the Jets reached the AFC championship game. He never made it to the Super Bowl, and his final playoff game with the Dolphins was way back in 2001.

“If there was one regret I have as an athlete, it’s that I didn’t get a chance to bring a championship to Miami,” he said.

Taylor said his wife was surprised he’s hanging it up. But the Dolphins (5-10) are nearing the end of another disappointing season and about to embark on a coaching search, which influenced his decision.

“The last few weeks I thought about it more,” he said. “It has been a tough year. This organization is going to make some changes. This is the right time for me to go and allow this organization to grow and improve.”

Taylor made the Pro Bowl six times, spending much of his career at end before switching to linebacker. He has been used mostly in passing situations this season and has seven sacks this season, which ranks second on the team.

“He’s a great leader, a great ambassador for the city of Miami, and a great player in this league,” teammate Jake Long said. “He’ll definitely be missed.”

His best season was in 2006, when he was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That season he had 13½ sacks, forced 10 fumbles and returned two interceptions for scores.

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By Greg Stoda

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE — The second-greatest player in Miami Dolphins history is all but done.

Jason Taylor, a defensive end/linebacker extraordinaire for the Dolphins, announced his retirement Wednesday to be effective at the end of the season, which comes Sunday afternoon in Sun Life Stadium against the New York Jets.

There’ll be a certain symmetry to the end of Taylor’s glistening career.

It spanned 15 seasons – all but two with Miami, as he spent one year with Washington and last year with … the Jets.

“There are a lot of coincidences, I guess,” Taylor said at the team’s practice facility.

And he at least hinted that his retirement, which he said he had been contemplating “the last few weeks,” is coincidental with franchise plans.

“I figured out that this is the right move to make and the right time to do it,” Taylor said. “The organization in the near future is going to make some changes, and part of those changes is needing to address personnel positions. It’s the right time for me to go ahead and allow this organization to grow and improve.”

If it was suggested to Taylor that a graceful exit would be best for everyone involved, he seemed at ease with it.

“Just kick ol’ 99 out the door and move on,” Taylor said with a smile in reference to his certain-to-be retired number.

In a statement, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said Taylor “will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

Teammates called him a “mentor,” a “leader by example” and an “ambassador.”

Oh, sure, there’s room for legitimate debate on that second-greatest thing.

Dan Marino is the undisputed king, of course, but Larry Csonka and Bob Griese and perhaps a couple other Dolphins heroes would draw support away from Taylor in voting for whomever is next.

But not in my book.

Taylor was a six-time Pro Bowl pick. He once was the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was an NFL Man of the Year once, too, in recognition of his off-field contributions to society through the foundation bearing his name and benefitting children in need.

How’s that for a third-round pick – the best thing Jimmy Johnson ever did as Miami’s coach – out of Akron in 1997?

And there was effusive praise from Jets coach Rex Ryan: ” (Taylor is) a no-brainer Hall of Famer. But what a guy. He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected this team so positively. I’m just proud I had the chance to coach him. A class act all the way.

“The way he would talk to players. He always had time for guys. Leaned on them, asked them questions. This guy would run scout team running back for us. The same person every day, always had a smile on his face.

“A great, great person, and was like a young kid out there. That’s why it’s interesting he would retire, because he’s so full of energy and spirit. He was just, wow, he was one of those special people that you’re lucky to be around.”

But it wasn’t all roses in Miami for Taylor, who, feeling unwanted and disrespected by then-czar Bill Parcells, was traded to Washington before the 2008 season. He returned to the Dolphins’ fold the next season before leaving again to join the Jets and inviting the wrath of Miami fans for switching sides in the fierce rivalry.

And he played in just six playoff games with Miami in failing to reach the Super Bowl.

Taylor, who got to the AFC championship game with the Jets, called the failure to win a championship with the Dolphins a “regret.”

Taylor was circumspect on the issue of retirement just last month during an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

“The seasons go by faster now,” Taylor said at the time. “The end is near. You start counting days and realize you may not have another opportunity in a year. You cherish the games, and enjoy them more.”

Asked then if he would play in 2012, Taylor replied, “I’m not starting that ball rolling yet.”

He’s healthy, and would be 38 years old next season. Once he did start the ball rolling, it stopped with the retirement decision.

Taylor has seven sacks this season and 139 1/2 for his career to rank first among active players and sixth on the NFL’s all-time list. (He would catch Michael Strahan in fifth place with two against the Jets.)

“I wish he’d have retired before we played,” Ryan joked. “That would be better.”

Taylor has played well this season in what was supposed to be a limited role, but one that expanded due to injury elsewhere on the roster and his own high level of performance.

He’s a great athlete; he’s an interesting man.

And he’s behind only Marino in Dolphins’ lore as a player on at least one ballot.

DAVIE—

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor began by saying the moment was unfortunate.

He then quickly corrected himself.

He considered Wednesday’s retirement announcement as a fortunate day in his personal life. After 15 seasons, 13 with the Dolphins, Taylor will play his final game Sunday against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium.

“This will be my last game as a Miami Dolphin as a professional football player,” Taylor said. “I look forward to enjoying this week and soaking it all in for the next few days. We have a game left to play. There will be time for thank yous and goodbyes. This is not the time for that.”

Taylor will end his career against the team he played for during the 2010 season. He spent another year with the Washington Redskins, but will always be remembered for his days with the Dolphins. He recorded most of his success in Miami, where he put up numbers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.

“In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “What a guy. He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively.”

Taylor ranks sixth in NFL history with 139.5 sacks. The league began counting the statistic in 1982. His 131 sacks with the Dolphins are the most in franchise history. Taylor was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

He said he made the decision after consulting with friends, including former Dolphins teammates and brother-in-law Zach Thomas.

“I figured out this was the right move to make, the right time to do it,” Taylor said. “It’s been a tough year, unfortunately. We’ve had some good times, we’ve had a lot of bad times, too.”

Taylor said the lone regret of his career was never winning a championship with the Dolphins. Team owner Stephen Ross released a statement saying Taylor “will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

“We congratulate him for all he has done and we are looking forward to continuing to work with him as he begins the next chapter in his life,” Ross said.

Taylor compared his locker-room experiences with the Dolphins as a fraternity. He spent many days playing dominoes with teammates after practice, building a friendly rivalry with receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall jokingly said he let Taylor win a game Wednesday so that “he’s going out a winner.”

“I played dominoes with the guy every day,” Marshall said. “There are only a few guys that have that fire that loves to compete that hates to lose. The thing I noticed about J.T. when we’re playing dominoes is that it doesn’t matter, it’s a friendly game, there’s nothing on the line but he hates to lose.”

Taylor said his future plans are unknown, but they won’t involve returning to football.

“I’m not even going to leave the door open for any of that stuff,” Taylor said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t get me.”

DAVIE—

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor began by saying the moment was unfortunate.

He then quickly corrected himself.

He considered Wednesday’s retirement announcement as a fortunate day in his personal life. After 15 seasons, 13 with the Dolphins, Taylor will play his final game Sunday against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium.

“This will be my last game as a Miami Dolphin as a professional football player,” Taylor said. “I look forward to enjoying this week and soaking it all in for the next few days. We have a game left to play. There will be time for thank yous and goodbyes. This is not the time for that.”

Taylor will end his career against the team he played for during the 2010 season. He spent another year with the Washington Redskins, but will always be remembered for his days with the Dolphins. He recorded most of his success in Miami, where he put up numbers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.

“In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “What a guy. He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively.”

Taylor ranks sixth in NFL history with 139.5 sacks. The league began counting the statistic in 1982. His 131 sacks with the Dolphins are the most in franchise history. Taylor was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

He said he made the decision after consulting with friends, including former Dolphins teammates and brother-in-law Zach Thomas.

“I figured out this was the right move to make, the right time to do it,” Taylor said. “It’s been a tough year, unfortunately. We’ve had some good times, we’ve had a lot of bad times, too.”

Taylor said the lone regret of his career was never winning a championship with the Dolphins. Team owner Stephen Ross released a statement saying Taylor “will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

“We congratulate him for all he has done and we are looking forward to continuing to work with him as he begins the next chapter in his life,” Ross said.

Taylor compared his locker-room experiences with the Dolphins as a fraternity. He spent many days playing dominoes with teammates after practice, building a friendly rivalry with receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall jokingly said he let Taylor win a game Wednesday so that “he’s going out a winner.”

“I played dominoes with the guy every day,” Marshall said. “There are only a few guys that have that fire that loves to compete that hates to lose. The thing I noticed about J.T. when we’re playing dominoes is that it doesn’t matter, it’s a friendly game, there’s nothing on the line but he hates to lose.”

Taylor said his future plans are unknown, but they won’t involve returning to football.

“I’m not even going to leave the door open for any of that stuff,” Taylor said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t get me.”

DAVIE—

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor began by saying the moment was unfortunate.

He then quickly corrected himself.

He considered Wednesday’s retirement announcement as a fortunate day in his personal life. After 15 seasons, 13 with the Dolphins, Taylor will play his final game Sunday against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium.

“This will be my last game as a Miami Dolphin as a professional football player,” Taylor said. “I look forward to enjoying this week and soaking it all in for the next few days. We have a game left to play. There will be time for thank yous and goodbyes. This is not the time for that.”

Taylor will end his career against the team he played for during the 2010 season. He spent another year with the Washington Redskins, but will always be remembered for his days with the Dolphins. He recorded most of his success in Miami, where he put up numbers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.

“In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “What a guy. He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively.”

Taylor ranks sixth in NFL history with 139.5 sacks. The league began counting the statistic in 1982. His 131 sacks with the Dolphins are the most in franchise history. Taylor was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, winning the Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

He said he made the decision after consulting with friends, including former Dolphins teammates and brother-in-law Zach Thomas.

“I figured out this was the right move to make, the right time to do it,” Taylor said. “It’s been a tough year, unfortunately. We’ve had some good times, we’ve had a lot of bad times, too.”

Taylor said the lone regret of his career was never winning a championship with the Dolphins. Team owner Stephen Ross released a statement saying Taylor “will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

“We congratulate him for all he has done and we are looking forward to continuing to work with him as he begins the next chapter in his life,” Ross said.

Taylor compared his locker-room experiences with the Dolphins as a fraternity. He spent many days playing dominoes with teammates after practice, building a friendly rivalry with receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall jokingly said he let Taylor win a game Wednesday so that “he’s going out a winner.”

“I played dominoes with the guy every day,” Marshall said. “There are only a few guys that have that fire that loves to compete that hates to lose. The thing I noticed about J.T. when we’re playing dominoes is that it doesn’t matter, it’s a friendly game, there’s nothing on the line but he hates to lose.”

Taylor said his future plans are unknown, but they won’t involve returning to football.

“I’m not even going to leave the door open for any of that stuff,” Taylor said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t get me.”