Some players change games. Lawrence Taylor changed the way the whole sport was played. He simply attacked, and offences spent 13 seasons redrawing their protection schemes to keep him away from the quarterback.
He remains one of only two defensive players ever named NFL MVP, a two-time Super Bowl champion and a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Find more Big Blue favourites in our New York Giants collection.
Lawrence Taylor Fact File
| Full name | Lawrence Julius Taylor |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 February 1959 (age 67) |
| Place of birth | Williamsburg, Virginia, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Position | Outside linebacker |
| Nationality | American |
| Teams | North Carolina Tar Heels (college); New York Giants (1981–1993) |
| Shirt number | 56 (retired by the Giants) |
| Nickname | LT |
Career History
| Years | Team | Games | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | New York Giants | 16 | 9.5 (unofficial) |
| 1982–1985 | New York Giants | 57 | 41.0 |
| 1986 | New York Giants | 16 | 20.5 |
| 1987–1990 | New York Giants | 56 | 53.0 |
| 1991–1993 | New York Giants | 39 | 18.0 |
| Career | New York Giants | 184 | 132.5 |
Figures are NFL regular-season games and sacks. Sacks only became an official NFL statistic in 1982, so LT's 9.5 rookie sacks are unofficial and not included in his official career total of 132.5 (142 with them).
Early Years in Virginia and Chapel Hill
Lawrence Julius Taylor was born on 4 February 1959 in Williamsburg, Virginia. At the University of North Carolina he grew into an All-America linebacker that scouts simply could not ignore.
The Giants took him second overall in the 1981 NFL Draft.
Relive the start of it all with our Lawrence Taylor Giants American Football Icon Frame Men's Hoodie.
A Rookie Season Like No Other
Taylor's 1981 debut is still talked about as one of the finest rookie campaigns in NFL history. He made 133 tackles, recorded 9.5 sacks and an interception, and walked away with both the Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
He added a second Defensive Player of the Year award in 1982.
Wear a piece of that rookie magic with our Lawrence Taylor Men's T-Shirt.
1986: MVP and Super Bowl Glory
Everything came together in 1986. Taylor piled up a career-high 20.5 sacks and 105 tackles, and he was named NFL MVP, only the second defensive player ever to win it after Alan Page in 1971. The Giants rode that defence all the way to Super Bowl XXI, beating the Denver Broncos for the franchise's first Super Bowl title.
A second ring arrived in Super Bowl XXV after the 1990 season, when the Giants edged the Buffalo Bills.
Celebrate the championship years in our Lawrence Taylor Men's Hoodie.
Legacy of the Greatest Defender
Taylor retired after the 1993 season, having spent all 13 of his years with the Giants. He finished with 132.5 official sacks, second on the all-time list when he stepped away. The Giants retired No. 56, and in 1999 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
He was named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994 and, decades later, was a unanimous pick for the NFL 100 All-Time Team.
Honours
Team
- Super Bowl champion: XXI (1986 season) and XXV (1990 season)
Individual
- NFL MVP (1986)
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)
- NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
- 10 Pro Bowls (1981–1990)
- 8× first-team All-Pro and 2× second-team All-Pro (AP)
Legacy
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and NFL 100 All-Time Team
- No. 56 retired by the New York Giants
Off the Pitch
LT has enjoyed plenty of screen time since retiring, playing a role in Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday and appearing as himself in The Waterboy and The Sopranos. He also won the main event of WWE's WrestleMania XI against Bam Bam Bigelow, and he has long been a keen golfer.
FAQs
How old is Lawrence Taylor?
Lawrence Taylor was born on 4 February 1959, so he is 67 years old.
Where was Lawrence Taylor born?
He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in the United States.
How tall is Lawrence Taylor?
He stands 6 ft 3 in, roughly 1.91 m.
What teams did Lawrence Taylor play for?
He played college football for North Carolina and spent his entire 13-season NFL career with the New York Giants (1981–1993).
How many sacks did Lawrence Taylor have?
He recorded 132.5 official sacks, or 142 including the 9.5 unofficial sacks from his 1981 rookie season, with a best of 20.5 in 1986.
Why was Lawrence Taylor's 1986 season so special?
He won NFL MVP as a defender, only the second ever to do so, and led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI.
Shop the Lawrence Taylor Collection
Bring LT's relentless energy to your wardrobe.
Explore our full American Football collection, browse the New York Giants collection, or put your own name on the back with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Walter Payton Career Story and Joe Montana Career Story.
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