Logan Taylor was already towering over six feet tall before he turned 10, making him a standout on the soccer field.
“I often received fouls and penalties for being too aggressive out there, so my size definitely made me noticeable,” recalled Taylor, now 24, who hails from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
He mentioned that a coach from a local football team once spoke to his father about him.
“He said, ‘You need to bring your son to play here,’” Taylor recounted. “From the moment I stepped onto the football field, I fell in love with the teamwork and the physical contact; it was a perfect fit for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for that chance.”
Fast forward to now, and the six-foot-seven, 312-pound offensive lineman is residing in Los Angeles, participating in his first training camp with the NFL’s Chargers after being picked in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. He holds the distinction of being the highest-drafted player from Nova Scotia.
Taylor runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on March 1, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)
This achievement marks the realization of a lifelong dream, which required him to leave his small seaside community at the age of 14. He has since lived in Timberlea, N.S., Virginia, and Massachusetts in pursuit of his goal.
While Nova Scotia has produced hockey legends like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, the number of players from the province who have participated in an NFL regular-season game is limited to Tyrone Williams and Steve Morley.
To attend a high school with a football program, Taylor moved to Timberlea for his 10th and 11th grades, enrolling at what was then known as Sir John A. Macdonald High School.
Brian and Kathy Mason became his billet parents during this time. Brian recalled that when Taylor moved in, he was approximately six feet six inches tall and weighed around 280 pounds, making him stand out physically. He remembered hearing some individuals question Taylor’s aspirations of reaching the NFL.
“We told him, ‘Don’t pay attention to them. You have what it takes to succeed, but you need to put in the effort,’” Brian Mason shared.
Houston Texans defensive end Solomon Byrd, right, collides with Chargers guard Logan Taylor in the first quarter of an NFL pre-season game in Houston on Aug. 13, 2026. (Maria Lysaker/AP)
The Masons describe Taylor as a gentle giant who is caring, humble, and respectful.
Kathy Mason noted that Taylor was always willing to engage in discussions and consider different perspectives.
“There were some challenges, but nothing we hadn’t faced with our own two boys,” she added.
Taylor is shown with his ‘Timberlea parents,’ Kathy and Brian Mason, in a photo from when he lived with them when he was in Grade 10. (Submitted by Kathy Mason)
Taylor reflected on moving away at 14, stating, “I had to mature quickly.” He considers the Masons to be two of his four parents.
During his Grade 12 year, Taylor enrolled in a boarding school in Virginia. He spent his initial two years of post-secondary education at the University of Virginia, followed by three years at Boston College.
When the NFL Draft occurred in April, Taylor was back home in Lunenburg. The Masons were present as well, although they had not yet arrived when he received the call from the Chargers.
Taylor is from Lunenburg, a small, picturesque town on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
“It was an incredible feeling,” Taylor said. “Being able to share that moment with my parents, my wife, and her family was unforgettable.”
Recently, Taylor spoke with CBC News via video from the Chargers’ practice facility just days before the team’s second pre-season exhibition match.
Life in L.A.
On a typical day, he wakes up before 6 a.m. PT. Team meetings commence at 7 a.m. and usually last for two hours. After a practice session from 10 a.m. to noon, there’s a lunch break followed by more meetings in the afternoon. In the evening, they have a non-contact practice called a walk-through.
“You’re competing against the best in practice, and then when you hit the game, it’s an entirely different level,” Taylor remarked.
He expressed enjoyment in his new life in Los Angeles, highlighting the pleasant weather, beautiful beaches, and diverse dining options, but as a “country guy,” he misses his usual activities like four-wheeling, hunting, and fishing.
“But hey, I’m here for work,” Taylor stated.
The Chargers drafted four offensive linemen, presenting a challenge for Taylor to secure a spot on the 53-man active roster.
Taylor sits on the bench during the second half of a 2023 NCAA college football game against Northern Illinois in Boston. (Michael Dwyer/AP)
Brian Mason advised Taylor that being drafted merely opens the door for him.
“Now you can step through, but this is where the real work begins. You must prove that you belong and put in the effort to stay and demonstrate your worth,” Mason emphasized.
“And he replied, ‘I understand.’ I said, ‘Let’s do it, and show them how tough a kid from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, truly is.’”
Taylor, who has assisted with summer football camps in his hometown, aims to be a supportive figure for young Nova Scotians aspiring to play professional football.
Taylor (65) leads Boston College onto the field prior to a game against California on Sept. 27, 2025. (Greg M. Cooper/AP)
When asked what guidance he would offer to them, his response is just as relevant to his current circumstances.
“On days when you feel like, ‘I don’t really want to,’ those are the days when someone else is going to put in the effort,” Taylor explained.
“So maintain that mindset: if you’re not willing to do it, someone else will. And there’s always someone else competing for your spot, so approach every single day with determination.”
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