The Houston Texans cafeteria played a very important role in Zac Taylor's marriage.
The Bengals Head Coach is getting set for the Super Bowl next week against the Los Angeles Rams. He recently talked about Cincinnati's season, the team and a whole lot more on Cris Collinsworth's podcast. The full episode is HERE.
Taylor met his future wife Sarah Sherman when the two were students at the University of Nebraska. He was the Cornhuskers' quarterback in 2005 and 2006. Sherman is the daughter of longtime NFL and college coach Mike Sherman. He was the Packers Head Coach from 2000 to 2005 and the Texas A&M Head Coach from 2008 through 2011.
But in between stops in Green Bay and College Station, he was an offensive assistant with the Texans.
The love connection between Taylor and Sarah Sherman got serious, and the former was ready to ask the latter to be his bride, but before that, he wanted to get her dad's blessing.
Coach Sherman, however, was busy. Along with the rest of the Texans coaches and front office personnel, he was getting ready for the NFL Draft. Sherman said he could meet with Taylor, but it had to be in Houston at NRG Stadium during lunch.
So Taylor caught a flight to Houston, a cab from the airport to the stadium and wound up in a crowded lunchroom at NRG Stadium. And Sherman was occupied by a writer from the Houston Chronicle, with notable former Houston Texans Quarterback Matt Schaub and Running Back Ahman Green also nearby.
"He was at a table with John McClain, the big Texans writer down there," Taylor said. "And I couldn't break him (Sherman) away from him (McClain). I only had an hour before my flight. He's sitting there having a conversation with John McClain and I'm sitting there at the table. Matt Schaub's at the next table. Ahman Green, and I'm as nervous - as you can imagine."
With the clock ticking, and a flight back to Nebraska to catch, McClain left and gave Taylor an opening.
"All these players are around me, and we're at a little table, and I had to ask 'Hey, can I marry your daughter?" Taylor said. "And I've got a flight to catch in 15 minutes, so I need a quick answer."
Sherman gave his blessing, Taylor skedaddled back to the airport, popped the question and after all these years later, the married couple has four children.
And to think: one important part of that journey happened in the Houston Texans cafeteria.
Take a look at the best photos of the 2021 Houston Texans family and friends.
An image from day 12 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 10, 2021.
An image from day 9 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 6, 2021.
An image from day 11 of Training Camp practice at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 9, 2021.
An image from day four of Training Camp practice at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on July 31, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Dec. 26, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Dec. 26, 2021.
An image from day four of Training Camp practice at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on July 31, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Jan 9, 2022.
An image from the regular season week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Jan 9, 2022.
An image from the regular season week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Jan 9, 2022.
An image from the regular season week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Dec. 26, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 15 game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 19, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Jan 9, 2022.
An image from the regular season week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Dec. 26, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Dec. 26, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 15 game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 19, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 05, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 05, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 15 game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 19, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Oct. 24, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 5 NFL Football game between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Oct. 10, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 12 game between the Houston Texans and the New York Jets at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Nov. 28, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 17, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 4 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on Oct. 3, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 12 game between the Houston Texans and the New York Jets at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Nov. 28, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 9 game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 7, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 12 game between the Houston Texans and the New York Jets at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Nov. 28, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 5 NFL Football game between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Oct. 10, 2021.
An image from the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL week one game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sep. 12 2021. The Texans won 37-21.
An image from the regular season week 4 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on Oct. 3, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 4 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans at Highmark stadium in Orchard Park, NY, on Oct. 3, 2021.
An image from NFL regular season week 9 game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Nov. 7, 2021.
An image from the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL week one game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sep. 12 2021. The Texans won 37-21.
An image from the regular season week 3 Thursday Night Football game between the Houston Texans and the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sept. 23, 2021.
An image from the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars NFL week one game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Sep. 12 2021. The Texans won 37-21.
An image from the Aug. 28, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans lost 16-23.
An image from the Aug. 28, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans Lost 16-23.
An image from the Aug. 28, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans lost 16-23.
An image from day 10 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 7, 2021.
An image from day 10 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 7, 2021.
An image from the Aug. 14, 2021preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. The Texans won 26-7.
An image from the Aug. 28, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans lost 16-23.
An image from the Aug. 28, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Texans lost 16-23.
An image from day 11 of Training Camp practice at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 9, 2021.
An image from the Aug. 14, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Greenbay Packers. The Texans won 26-7.
An image from the Aug. 14, 2021 Texans preseason game against the Greenbay Packers. The Texans won 26-7.
An image from day 11 of Training Camp practice at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 9, 2021.
An image from day 13 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 11, 2021.
An image from day 9 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 6, 2021.
An image from day 9 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 6, 2021.
An image from the regular season week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Jan 9, 2022.
An image from day 9 of Training Camp at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Aug. 6, 2021.
