American · Williamsburg, Virginia · Born 4 February 1959New York Giants outside linebacker widely credited with revolutionizing the position and the 1986 NFL MVP.
Lawrence Julius Taylor was born on 4 February 1959 in Williamsburg, Virginia, the middle of three sons of Clarence, a shipyard dispatcher, and Iris Taylor, and did not begin playing organised football until the 11th grade, going on to earn All-American honours at the University of North Carolina. The New York Giants selected Taylor second overall in the 1981 NFL Draft, and he immediately revolutionised the outside linebacker position, combining exceptional speed with power to become, in 1986, only the second defensive player in NFL history to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Taylor, nicknamed "L.T.," won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and two Super Bowl championships with the Giants, retiring in 1993 with 142 career sacks, then the second-highest total in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Taylor's playing career and public life were repeatedly disrupted by cocaine addiction, which he first admitted to using in his second NFL season and for which he was suspended multiple times; his struggles continued after retirement, including several arrests for drug possession. In 2010, Taylor pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronising a prostitute in connection with a 16-year-old girl, and was required to register as a low-risk sex offender. He has continued to work in broadcasting and acting, his complex legacy shaped both by his standing as one of the greatest defensive players in football history and by the serious personal and legal struggles that have followed him since his playing days.
Giants LB, revolutionized the position
He is widely considered the greatest defensive player in NFL history and the only non-QB to win the league MVP award in the modern era.
Did You Know?How They Played
Explosive speed off the edge, relentless pass rusher, exceptional instincts, intimidating physical presence, ability to disrupt entire offensive gameplans
Lasting Impact
Transformed how teams approach pass protection and linebacker play, setting the standard for modern defensive schemes
Career Honours
- Pro Football Hall of Fame 1999
- 1986 NFL MVP
- 3x Defensive Player of the Year
- 2x Super Bowl champion
- 10x Pro Bowl
| Team | Period | Games | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 1981–1993 | 184 | #56 |
American Athletes