Physical education teacher talks playing against Jonathan Taylor in high school

September 6, 2026 - 19:21

Health and physical education teacher Riley Giles has a good story from his high school days, and it involves one of the NFL's best running backs. Giles played quarterback and safety back then. But when his team faced Jonathan Taylor, he made a smart choice. He stayed on offense.

Giles knew Taylor was a different kind of athlete. Watching him on film was one thing. Seeing him in person was another. Taylor was fast, strong, and ran with a purpose that most high school players simply did not have. Giles figured the best way to avoid getting run over was to keep the ball in his own hands. So he did not volunteer to play defense that night.

The plan worked out better than expected. Giles did not have to make a tackle on Taylor. He also did not have to take a hit from him. Instead, he got to watch from the sideline when Taylor had the ball. That was fine with him. He respected Taylor's game from a distance.

Now Giles teaches health and physical education. He uses that story sometimes when talking to students about knowing your limits. It is not about being scared. It is about being smart. He tells kids that recognizing a special talent early can save you a lot of pain. And he always adds that he is glad his high school coach agreed with him that night.