Lawrence Taylor is a legendary football player and a true star of the New York Giants. He is considered to be one of the best outside linebackers to ever play the game and he achieved tremendous success both on and off the field. Taylor played 13 seasons in the NFL and was selected to 10 Pro Bowls during his time with the Giants. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game and has the accolades to show for it. In this article, we’ll take a look at Lawrence Taylor’s impressive career and all the accomplishments he achieved during his years with the Giants.
A Brief Biography of Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor was born in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1959 and attended the University of North Carolina for three years before he was drafted by the Giants in 1981. His college career was nothing short of spectacular and he was selected to the 1981 College Football All-America Team and named the ACC Player of the Year in 1980. Taylor was a physical specimen at the time and the Giants saw an opportunity to draft a potential game changer in the first round. Little did they know they would be witnessing one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.
1980s: The Dominant Years
Taylor’s career with the Giants got off to a tremendous start and he was named the 1981 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the Pro Bowl during each of his first seven seasons. His incredible combination of size, speed, and athleticism made him an offensive nightmare and his knack for sacking the quarterback made him even more dangerous. Taylor’s impressive performance throughout the 1980s was rewarded with selection to 10 separate All-Pro teams. He led the league in sacks in three consecutive seasons (1984-1986) and was also recognized for his skills in pass coverage.
Accolades and Awards
There’s no denying that Lawrence Taylor was an outstanding football player. He was named the NFL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 1986, and he was also recognized as the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1996. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 and was prominently featured in the list of the NFL’s 100 greatest players the same year. These honors are a testament to how great of player Lawrence Taylor was and how he achieved so much success during his years with the New York Giants.
The Comeback Years
In the later years of his career, Taylor played in three more Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in each of his last three seasons with the Giants. He continued to showcase his leadership qualities, commitment to excellence, and ferocious tackling ability regardless of his age. Ultimately, Taylor capped off his career with a thrilling Super Bowl XXV victory over the Buffalo Bills in 1991.
Retirement and Post-Career Impact
After retiring from the NFL in 1993, Taylor found success off the field as well. He worked as a radio analyst for ESPN for two years and established himself as one of the most recognizable formerplayers in the league. Taylor was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and has continued to be an ambassador for the sport ever since.
Lawrence Taylor was an extraordinary player and his impact on the game is still felt to this day. He was an outstanding athlete and leader who achieved tremendous success throughout his 13-year career with the New York Giants. Taylor won an MVP Award, was named Defensive Player of the Year on multiple occasions, and will forever be remembered as one of the most dominant defenders to ever play the game. His intense passion, unparalleled physical gifts, and relentless work ethic set him apart from most of his contemporaries and will continue to be an inspiration for many football players for years to come.
