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Hibbett Celebrates Black History Month With Clifford Taylor

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Celebrating Black Excellence: The Journey of Clifford Taylor IV

Feb 1, 2026

For Clifford Taylor IV, Black History Month isn’t just a date circled on the calendar. It’s an ongoing story—a living, breathing reminder of both legacy and responsibility. Clifford, a Florida-based athlete, creator, and storyteller, moves through the world with a deep sense of pride in his roots and a determination to shape what comes next.

Clifford Taylor posing squatting down

He grew up steeped in the stories of Black excellence—told not only through books and films, but most powerfully through the words and actions of his own family. “The older I get, the more Black History Month means to me,” Clifford explains. “Being Black is an honor because we come from greatness.”


Those lessons from home shaped him, but so did the realities of the world around him: the progress made and the work still to be done. “There’s still a lot to do… whether it be in equality in opportunities, [equality in] the spaces we’re currently in, or just how we move in everyday life…”  To continue this progress, Clifford has vowed that no matter what, he will always show his pride in being a Black man. “… Noone will ever take my pride in that away.”

Clifford Taylor with Cam Newton

Role models played a big part in helping Clifford see what was possible. One pivotal moment came as a young fan in the stands at a University of Florida football game, watching a player named Cam Newton run over a Tennessee defender. Years later, that same spark reignited when Newton, now a star, became the face of Clifford’s beloved Carolina Panthers.


Newton’s journey—marked by resilience, authenticity, and a refusal to hide his roots—inspired Clifford to chase his own dreams, both on and off the field. “He’s my hero, and when I finally got the chance to meet him and take a picture with him, it just proved to me that when you work hard and push yourself to heights you never thought possible, God has a way of showing you that hard work pays off.”

Clifford Taylor at UF celebration

But Clifford’s own path was never just about football. When he walked onto the team at the University of Florida, he quickly realized the reality: to some, players were there to entertain, not to be seen as full people. The events of 2020 and the stories of his fellow Black student-athletes further opened his eyes. At the time, Clifford joined the Black Student Athlete Council, where he found community through shared experiences with fellow Black students. “Learn[ing] about my brothers and sisters’ stories, upbringings, and everything taught me how special and powerful it is to be a black man.”



Through football, Clifford found an even larger community and a platform for his future. It taught him the value of hard work, of going above and beyond, of always being hungry to learn more. “Doing just enough is never enough,” he says. That mindset carried him from a walk-on at Florida to jobs with the Los Angeles Rams and the NBA, and eventually to launching his own company, The Clifford Show. “The game of football has done so much for me in such a short period of time; I can’t give the game enough thank you’s.” Now, the former athlete creates content around both his loves: football AND basketball. “…That’s everything to me.”

Clifford Taylor at Rams celebration

Yet, life after football brought its own challenges. Clifford moved across the country, navigated career upheaval, and faced mental health struggles that tested him deeply. His mental health hit an all-time low from early 2021 to 2023.  Changes in his personal life, career, and general struggles left Clifford feeling as if he “was looking death in the face.” But after making the choice to leave his position with the LA Rams, the NBA gave him a lifeline, which he used as motivation to rebound from every setback to that point.


Even in the lowest moments—facing legal threats, leaving a dream job—Clifford found new strength in his purpose as a creator. “I [would] tell myself that as low as I felt during that time, as long as I’m breathing and creating, that feeling of driving to my own funeral and looking death in the face, I’ll never have that feeling ever again.”

Clifford Taylor in sunglasses and Jordan apparel

Through it all, Clifford never lost sight of the bigger picture. Authenticity—online and off—means representing not just himself, but also his family, city, and culture. His parents made sure he understood their history and what it means to carry that forward. As a kid, Clifford admits he didn’t always get it. Now, he acknowledges that those lessons made him who he is. “I’m so thankful for the parents I have because now and forever I only know how to be myself and hopefully a proud representation of black culture and excellence.”


Community remains his anchor. Though he lives in Florida now, Clifford’s heart belongs to Charlotte, North Carolina. As a kid struggling to fit in, he never imagined the city would embrace him as it has today. “The amount of people that told me to keep making the city proud or to keep putting on for the city – moments like that make the work I do so worth it. It honestly sometimes brings me to tears… I was born and raised in North Carolina, and no matter where life takes me, my home will forever be Charlotte, North Carolina.”

Clifford Taylor with his YouTube plaque

Today, Clifford’s definition of success is less about accolades and more about impact. It’s about having the discipline to care for himself and his family and to build a legacy for generations to come. His dream is simple: to create opportunities for his future kids, and their kids, and their kids after that. “I still have a long way to go and so much left in the tank creatively, and so I just continue to let go, let God, and let everything play out the way it’s supposed to while continuing to work hard every day.”


To young Black men chasing their dreams, Clifford’s advice rings clear: "You are powerful. You are a gift from God…. Hustle every day like your life depends on it, and remember to stay humble throughout the journey… Set the tone for generations to come and remind everyone that you come from greatness.”

Clifford Taylor IV’s story pulses with resilience and pride, reflecting the strength and warmth of community. As we celebrate Black History Month, we not only honor legends of the past but lift up the passionate voices lighting the way forward. Stay tuned for more moving journeys in our four-part series, only on Hibbett.com.

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