View source for Lawrence Taylor

{{Short description|American football player (born 1959)}}
{{Other people}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Lawrence Taylor
| image       = Lawrence Taylor in 2025 (cropped).jpg
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Taylor in 2025
| number      = 56
| position    = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1959|02|04}}
| birth_place = [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lbs  = 237
| high_school = [[Lafayette High School (Virginia)|Lafayette]]<br>(Williamsburg, Virginia)
| college     = [[North Carolina Tar Heels football|North Carolina]] (1977–1980)
| draftyear   = 1981
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 2
| pastteams   =
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1981|1993}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]])
* [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (1986)
* 3× [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1981, 1982, 1986)
* [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] (1981)
* 2× [[UPI NFC Player of the Year]] (1983, 1986)
* 8× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]]–[[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1988 All-Pro Team|1988]], [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* 2× Second-team All-Pro ([[1987 All-Pro Team|1987]], [[1990 All-Pro Team|1990]])
* 10× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1982 Pro Bowl|1981]]–[[1991 Pro Bowl|1990]])
* [[List of National Football League season sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1986)
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]]
* [[NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[Bert Bell Award]] (1986)
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1981|1981]])
* [[New York Giants#Ring of Honor|New York Giants Ring of Honor]]
* [[New York Giants#Retired numbers|New York Giants No. 56]] retired
* [[New York Giants#Top 100 greatest Giants of all-time|Greatest New York Giant of All Time]]
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1980 College Football All-America Team|1980]])
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1980)
* First-team All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] ([[1980 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1980]])
* [[ACC 50th Anniversary men's football team|ACC 50th Anniversary Team]]
* [[AP All-Time All-America college football team#Second team|Second-team AP All-Time All-American]] (2025)
* [[North Carolina Tar Heels football#Honored jerseys|North Carolina Tar Heels Jersey No. 98]] honored
| statlabel1  = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 1,088
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 142
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue3  = 11
| statlabel4  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue4  = 9
| statlabel5  = [[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
| statvalue5  = 2
| pfr         = TaylLa00
| HOF         = lawrence-taylor 
}}

'''Lawrence Julius Taylor''' (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "'''L.T.'''", is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[linebacker]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 13 seasons with the [[New York Giants]]. He is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player of all time – and considered by some as the best football player ever.<ref name="GOAT">
* {{Cite web |last=Mori |first=Dan |date=October 25, 2010 |title=NFL Power Rankings: Top 50 Greatest Defensive Players In NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/492690-the-top-50-greatest-defensive-players-in-nfl-history |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}
* {{cite web | last=Goodpaster | first=Mike | title=The Top-20 Defensive Players in NFL History | website=TGT USA | date=2024-03-21 | url=https://thegruelingtruth.com/football/nfl/the-top-20-defensive-players-in-nfl-history/ | access-date=July 31, 2024}}
* {{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Elliot |date=March 30, 2016 |title=Top 10 defensive players ever |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/top-10-defensive-players-ever-0ap3000000648967 |access-date=March 29, 2025 |website=NFL.com}}
* {{Cite web|title=Top 10 defensive players ever|url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/top-10-defensive-players-ever-0ap3000000648967|access-date=April 6, 2021|website=NFL.com|language=en-US}}
* {{Cite web |title=NFL 100 |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/characters-20 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
* {{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tK7_lzVkNgM |title='Lawrence Taylor is the best football player ever' - Marcus Spears {{!}} First Take |date=2021-10-28 |last=ESPN |access-date=April 19, 2025 |via=YouTube}}
* {{cite web |last=Wogenrich |first=Mark |title=Abdul Carter Gets an Earful From Stephen A. Smith Over Lawrence Taylor's Number |url=https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/abdul-carter-gets-earful-from-stephen-a-smith-over-lawrence-taylors-number |website=Sports Illustrated |date=April 30, 2025 |access-date=September 29, 2025}}
* {{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Jeff |title=LT is the GOAT, but you already knew that |url=https://www.bigblueview.com/2019/4/13/18308757/lt-is-the-goat-but-you-already-knew-that |website=Big Blue View |date=April 13, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2025}}
* {{cite web |title=Nick Wright on Lawrence Taylor: He's in the discussion for the 'greatest football player ever' |url=https://www.foxsports.com/watch/1347175491956 |website=Fox Sports |access-date=September 29, 2025}}</ref> 

After an [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] career at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (1978–1981), Taylor was selected by the Giants [[List of second overall NFL draft picks|second overall]] in the [[1981 NFL draft]]. Although controversy surrounded the selection due to Taylor's contract demands, the two sides quickly resolved the issue. Taylor was named both the [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] in 1981 and the only NFL player to win the [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] award in his rookie season. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Taylor was a disruptive force at [[outside linebacker]], and is credited with changing defensive game plans, defensive [[pass rush]]ing schemes, [[offensive line]] blocking schemes, and [[offensive formations]] used in the NFL. Taylor produced double-digit [[Quarterback sack|sacks]] each season from 1984 through 1990, including a career-high of 20.5 in 1986. He also won a record three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards (since tied by [[J. J. Watt]] and [[Aaron Donald]]), and was named the league's [[NFL MVP|Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) for his performance during the 1986 season. He and [[Alan Page]] (1971) are the only defensive players in league history to earn the award. Taylor was named First-team [[All-Pro]] in eight of his first ten seasons, and Second-team All-Pro in the other two. Taylor was a key member of the Giants' defense, nicknamed the "[[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]]", that led New York to victories in [[Super Bowl]]s [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]] and [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]]. During the 1980s Taylor, [[Carl Banks]], [[Gary Reasons]], [[Brad Van Pelt]], [[Brian Kelley (American football)|Brian Kelley]], [[Pepper Johnson]], and Hall of Famer [[Harry Carson]] earned the Giants linebacking corps a reputation as one of the best in the NFL, along with the nickname "[[Crunch Bunch]]."

Taylor has lived a controversial lifestyle, during and after his playing career. He was known for his on-game persona and at one point inadvertently caused a [[compound fracture]] of the right leg of quarterback [[Joe Theismann]].<ref>{{cite book | last1=Taylor | first1=Lawrence | last2=Serby | first2=Steve | title=LT over the edge : tackling quarterbacks, drugs, and a world beyond football | publisher=HarperTorch | publication-place=New York | date=2004 | isbn=0-06-103149-6 | oclc=56520144}}</ref> He admitted to using drugs such as cocaine as early as his second year in the NFL, and was suspended for 30 days in 1988 by the league for failing [[drug test]]s. His drug abuse escalated after his retirement, and he was jailed three times for attempted drug possession. From 1998 to 2009, Taylor claims to have lived a sober, drug-free life. He worked as a [[color commentator]] on sporting events after his retirement, and pursued a career as an actor. His personal life came under public scrutiny in 2010 when he was arrested for the statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl. After he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute, Taylor was registered as a low-risk [[sex offender]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Chuck|last=Schilken|title=Lawrence Taylor sentenced to six years' probation|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/03/lawrence-taylor-sentenced-to-six-years-of-probation.html|access-date=March 22, 2011|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Early life==
Taylor was the first of three sons born to Clarence and Iris Taylor in [[Williamsburg, Virginia]]. His father worked as a [[dispatcher]] at the [[Newport News]] [[shipyards]], while his mother was a schoolteacher.<ref name="ethnicity">Harris, Nolte, and Kirsch. pg.449</ref> Referred to as Lonnie by his family,<ref name="Lonnie"/> Taylor was a mischievous youth. His mother said that "[h]e was a challenging child. Where the other two boys would ask for permission to do stuff, Lonnie ... would just do it, and when you found out about it, he would give you a big story."<ref name="Lonnie">Taylor and Serby. pg. 5</ref> Taylor concentrated on baseball as a youth, playing [[catcher]],<ref>Taylor and Falkner. pg.7</ref> and only began playing football at the advanced age of fifteen.<ref name="ethnicity"/> He did not play organized high school football until the following year ([[eleventh grade]]),<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002947/Lawrence-Taylor Lawrence Taylor], [[britannica.com]], accessed March 29, 2007.</ref> and was not heavily [[recruiting (athletics)|recruited]] coming out of high school.<ref>Taylor and Serby. pg. 17</ref>

==College career==
After graduating from [[Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)|Lafayette High School]] in 1977,<ref>Shampoe. pg. 65</ref> Taylor attended the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] where he was a team captain,<ref>[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/alltimelettermen.pdf North Carolina Football All-Time Letterman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031741/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/alltimelettermen.pdf |date=December 16, 2018 }} ([[Portable Document Format|PDF]]), [[cstv.com]], accessed February 26, 2007.</ref> and wore No. 98. Originally recruited as a [[defensive lineman]],<ref>Powell. pg. 80</ref> he saw limited action at the position while mostly playing on [[special teams]] as a true freshman.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duggan |first=Dan |date=July 18, 2024 |title=How the Giants landed Lawrence Taylor 40 years ago: The debate at No. 1, and dodging the Cowboys |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2544659/2021/04/28/how-the-giants-landed-lawrence-taylor-40-years-ago-the-debate-at-no-1-and-dodging-the-cowboys/ |access-date=November 24, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During an injury-plagued sophomore season, he played primarily as a defensive lineman before switching to [[linebacker]] in 1979.<ref name="espn" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=UNC All-Time Great Lawrence Taylor Returning to Chapel Hill |url=https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/unc-lawrence-taylor-returning-to-chapel-hill-georgia-state-game-170498776/ |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=247Sports |language=en}}</ref>

As a junior, Taylor recorded 95 [[Tackle (football move)#Gridiron football|tackles]] (80 solo), five [[Quarterback sack|sacks]], seven forced [[Fumble|fumbles]], and an [[interception]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taylor On College FB Hall Of Fame Ballott |url=https://goheels.com/news/2010/3/11/205487687 |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=University of North Carolina Athletics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LT - Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999 |url=https://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/21-04-809.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Evan |date=September 1, 2017 |title=All-time UNC Football Top 25 Countdown: No. 1 Lawrence Taylor |url=https://www.tarheelblog.com/2017/9/1/16226690/unc-tar-heels-football-history-lawrence-taylor-acc-ncaa-giants |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=Tar Heel Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> In his senior season in 1980, Taylor set multiple team records, including a still-standing mark of 16 sacks, and finished with 22 [[tackles for loss]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2014 |title=Schlabach: 10 toughest The Season calls |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/theseason0805toughcalls/the-10-toughest-calls-season-project |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="espn">Whitley, David. [https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Taylor_Lawrence.html L.T. was reckless, magnificent], [[espn.com]], accessed January 29, 2007.</ref> That same year, he was recognized as a consensus first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] and the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] Player of the Year, one of four defensive players to ever win the award.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-08-22 |title=The all-time All-ACC college football team |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/27421493/the-all-all-acc-college-football-team |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ethnicity" /> He was also a semi-finalist for the [[Lombardi Award]].<ref name=":1" />

The coaching staff marveled at Taylor's intense, reckless style of play. "As a freshman playing on special teams, he'd jump a good six or seven feet in the air to block a punt, then land on the back of his neck", said North Carolina assistant coach Bobby Cale. "He was reckless, just reckless."<ref name="espn" /> UNC later retired Taylor's jersey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Bryn |title=Where Have You Gone, Lawrence Taylor? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/162331-where-have-you-gone-lawrence-taylor |access-date=November 24, 2025 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===1981 NFL draft and training camp===
In the [[1981 NFL draft]], Taylor was selected by the [[New York Giants]] in the first round as the 2nd pick overall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1981/draft.htm |title=1981 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> In a poll of NFL [[general manager]]s (GMs) taken before the draft 26 of the league's 28 GMs said if they had the first selection they would select Taylor.<ref name="Bob">Sansevere, Bob. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5505815_ITM Giants' L.T.: His mean streaks revolutionized NFL, made him the best.], Knight Ridder, January 8, 1994, available at accessmylibrary.com, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref> One of the two GMs who said they would not take Taylor was [[Bum Phillips]], who had just been hired as coach and general manager by the [[New Orleans Saints]]. As fate would have it for Taylor, the Saints were also the team who had the first pick in the draft.<ref name="Bob"/> Giants GM [[George Young (football executive)|George Young]] predicted before the draft that he would be better than NFL legends such as [[Dick Butkus]]: "Taylor is the best college linebacker I've ever seen. Sure, I saw Dick Butkus play. There's no doubt in my mind about Taylor. He's bigger and stronger than Butkus was. On the [[blitz (American football)|blitz]], he's devastating."<ref name="Bob"/>

On draft day, Phillips made good on his promise not to draft Taylor and the Saints instead selected [[Heisman Trophy]]-winning halfback [[George Rogers (American football)|George Rogers]] with the first pick, leaving the Giants with the decision of whether to select Taylor. To the raucous approval of the crowd in attendance at the draft (which was held in New York City), the Giants selected him.<ref name="DA">[[Dave Anderson (sportswriter)|Anderson, Dave]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/29/sports/by-sports-of-the-times-nfl-s-dangerous-trend.html By Sports of The Times; N.F.L.'s Dangerous Trend], ''The New York Times'', April 19, 1981, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref> Privately, Taylor was hesitant about playing for New York as he had hoped to be drafted by the [[Dallas Cowboys]], and was unimpressed with a tour of [[Giants Stadium]] he was taken on, after the draft.<ref name="PV98">Pervin. pg. 98</ref> Publicly, however, he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play in the city.<ref name="Litsky">[[Frank Litsky|Litsky, Frank]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/04/29/sports/giants-pick-taylor-jets-choose-runners.html Giants pick Taylor; Jets pick runners], ''The New York Times'', April 29, 1981, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref> Taylor changed his stance after he was drafted as [[Harry Carson]] made a point to reach out to him, and Taylor said he "talked to some players and coaches" and "got things straightened out."<ref name="DA"/><ref name="PV98"/> One of the factors that the Giants said they considered in selecting Taylor was his solid reputation. "He was the cleanest player in the draft. By that I mean there was no rap on him", said head coach [[Ray Perkins (wide receiver)|Ray Perkins]]. "Great potential as a linebacker, a fine young man, free of injuries."<ref name="yellowflag">Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/07/sports/yellow-flag-for-a-no-1.html Yellow Flag For a No. 1], ''The New York Times'', September 7, 1981, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> Taylor chose to wear number 56 because he was a fan of Cowboys linebacker [[Thomas Henderson (American football)|Thomas Henderson]].<ref>Harvey, Randy. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-28-sp-13389-story.html It's Real Hollywood Ending for Transformed Henderson], ''Los Angeles Times'', March 28, 2000, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> As it would turn out, Taylor would have a longer and more successful career than Rogers, who had several 1,000-yard rushing seasons and made two Pro Bowl teams but was injury-prone and forced to retire after just seven seasons in 1987.

Taylor's talent was evident from the start of [[National Football League Training Camp|training camp]]. Reports came out of the Giants training compound of the exploits of the new [[Wiktionary:phenom|phenom]].<ref name="espn"/><ref name="Litsky 2">Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/07/sports/linebacker-s-debut-is-eagerly-awaited.html Linebacker's debut is eagerly anticipated], ''The New York Times'', August 7, 1981, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> Taylor's teammates took to calling him [[Superman]] and joked that his locker should be replaced with a phone booth.<ref name="espn"/> [[Phil Simms]], the team's [[quarterback]], said, "on the pass rush, he's an animal. He's either going to run around you or over you. With his quickness, he's full speed after two steps."<ref name="Litsky"/> Taylor made his NFL exhibition debut on August 8, 1981, recording 2 sacks in the Giants' 23–7 win over the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>Frank Litsky, [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/09/sports/giants-sets-back-bears-23-7.html Giants sets (sic) back Bears, 23-7], ''The New York Times'', August 9, 1981, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> Before the season word spread around the league about Taylor.<ref name="yellowflag"/><ref>Danyluk. pg. 297</ref> Years after facing him in an exhibition game, [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] quarterback [[Terry Bradshaw]] recalled, "[h]e dang-near killed me, I just kept saying, 'Who is this guy?' He kept coming from my blind side and just ripped my ribs to pieces."<ref name="Michael Jordan">Associated Press. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/29/lawrence_taylor/ The Michael Jordan of Football] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206162220/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/29/lawrence_taylor/ |date=December 6, 2008 }}, Sports Illustrated, January 30, 1999, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref>

Taylor developed what has been described as a "love-hate relationship" with [[Bill Parcells]], the Giants’ defensive coordinator when he was drafted and later their head coach.<ref name="PV99">Pervin. pg. 99</ref> Parcells often rode players in the hopes of driving them to better performance. Taylor did not appreciate this approach, and early on told Parcells, "I've had enough. You either cut me or trade me but get the fuck off my back."<ref>Taylor and Serby. pg. 34</ref> Parcells kept on Taylor, but privately told some veterans, "I like that LT. That motherfucker's got a mean streak."<ref name="PV99"/>

===Early career: 1981–1985===
Taylor made his NFL regular season debut on September 6, 1981, in a 24–10 loss to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. Aside from incurring a [[American football#Penalties|penalty]] for a late hit on Eagles running back [[Perry Harrington]], Taylor played an unremarkable game.<ref name="yellowflag"/> In a game versus the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] later in the season, Taylor rushed and sacked the passer when he was supposed to drop into coverage. When told by Parcells that was not what he was assigned to do on that play, and that what he did was not in the playbook,<ref name="PV99"/> Taylor responded "Well, we better put it in on Monday, because that play's a dandy."<ref>Taylor and Serby. pg. 41</ref> He recorded 9.5 sacks in 1981,<ref name="hof">[http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=212 Lawrence Taylor bio], profootballhof.com, accessed February 2, 2007.</ref> and his rookie season is considered one of the best in NFL history.<ref name="ROY">Merron, Jeff. [https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/nflrookies.html LT best NFL rookie of all time], espn.com, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref><ref>April 19, 2007 [https://www.si.com/nfl/2007/04/19/19-0top-15-impact-rookies-of-last-30-years Top 15 Rookie Impacts of the 30 years #1], Sports Illustrated, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> He was named 1981's [[NFL Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] and Defensive Player of the Year. Taylor's arrival helped the Giants defense reduce their points allowed from 425 points in 1980 to 257 in 1981.<ref name="ROY"/> They finished the season 9–7, up five games from the previous season, and advanced to the NFL divisional playoffs, where they lost 38–24 to the eventual [[Super Bowl]] champion [[San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110515034640/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?yr=1981&tm=NYG&lg=NFL 1981 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref> The San Francisco win was due partly to a new tactic 49ers coach [[Bill Walsh (football coach)|Bill Walsh]] used to slow Taylor. Walsh assigned [[offensive guard|guard]] [[John Ayers]], the team's best blocker, to block Taylor and, although Taylor still recorded a sack and three tackles, he was not as effective as normal.<ref name="Johnson">Johnson, Roy S. [https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/04/sports/49er-coach-s-tactic-helps-nullify-taylor.html 49ers Coach's tactic helps nullify Taylor], ''The New York Times'', January 4, 1982, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> In contrast to his on-field success Taylor was already developing a reputation for recklessness off the field; after nearly getting killed during the season when his speeding resulted in a car crash, Young told the team's trainer he would be surprised if the linebacker lived past the age of 30, and the Giants insured Taylor's life for $2 million.<ref name="PV99"/>

The 1982 NFL season, which was shortened to nine regular season games by a players [[strike action|strike]], included one of the more memorable plays of Taylor's career. In the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against the [[Detroit Lions]], the teams were tied 6–6 early in the fourth quarter, when the Lions drove deep into New York territory. Lions quarterback [[Gary Danielson]] dropped back to pass and threw the ball out to his left toward the sidelines. Taylor ran in front of the intended receiver, intercepted the pass, and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown.<ref>Rappoport, Ken [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cK9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-M8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5769,2441965&dq=thanksgiving+lions+lawrence-taylor&hl=en Last word on Young's comments], Associated Press. reprinted in ''[[Portsmouth Daily Times]]'', November 26, 1982, accessed November 17, 2010.</ref> This play was indicative of Taylor's unusual combination, even for a linebacker, of power with speed. He was again named Defensive Player of the Year.<ref name="dbf">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060501105834/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TayloLaw01 Lawrence Taylor]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 20, 2007.</ref>

After the 1982 season, Perkins became head coach of the [[University of Alabama]] and the Giants hired Parcells to replace him. In the coming years this change proved crucial to the Giants and Taylor. Leading up to the [[1983 NFL season|1983 season]], Taylor engaged in a training camp holdout that lasted three weeks and ended when he came back to the team under his old contract with three games left in the preseason.<ref>Janofsky, Michael. [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/13/sports/taylor-ends-holdout.html Taylor Ends Holdout], ''The New York Times'', August 13, 1983, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref>

Although Taylor recorded nine sacks and made the All-Pro team for the third consecutive season in 1983,<ref name="hof"/> the Giants struggled. The team went 3–12–1,<ref name="1983NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208160309/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=NFL&yr=1983 1983 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 20, 2007.</ref> and Parcells received heavy criticism from fans and the media. Taylor was forced to play [[inside linebacker]] for part of the season, a position which allowed him fewer pass rushing opportunities, when Carson was injured.<ref>Ziegel. pg. 82</ref> Despite this change, Taylor made the [[1983 All-Pro Team]] at both outside linebacker and inside linebacker, becoming the first first-team All-Pro in NFL History selected for two positions in the same year. Frustrated by the losing, Taylor began acting out by arriving late for meetings, and not participating in conditioning drills in practice.<ref>Pervin. pg. 101</ref> After the season, Taylor was involved in a fight for his services between the Giants and the [[New Jersey Generals]] of the [[United States Football League]].<ref name="eske">Eskenazi, Gerald. [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/18/sports/taylor-buys-out-generals-pact.html Taylor buys out Generals' pact], ''The New York Times'', January 18, 1984, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> Taylor was given a $1 million interest-free, 25-year loan by Generals owner [[Donald Trump]] on December 14, 1983, with the provision that he begin playing in the USFL in 1988.<ref name="eske"/> Taylor regretted the decision, and less than a month later attempted to renege. His agent was able to negotiate by meeting with Trump personally and then the Giants which resulted in allowing Taylor to go with the Giants. Taylor got a 6-year, $6.55 million package that also included a $1 million interest-free loan. The main results of these negotiations were threefold: 1) Taylor returned the $1 million to Trump, 2) the Giants paid Trump $750,000 over the next five seasons, and 3) the Giants gave Taylor a new six-year, $6.2 million contract.<ref name="eske"/><ref>Eskenazi, Gerald. pg. 46. — Trump later stated that in the event of the USFL folding (which occurred in 1985), he would have held on to Taylor's rights to employment: "I'd put him in a doorman's uniform and have him work at one of my buildings." (ibid)</ref>

The Giants' record rebounded to 9–7 in 1984,<ref name="1984NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070409000312/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1984 1984 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 20, 2007.</ref> and Taylor had his fourth All-Pro season.<ref name="hof"/> He got off to a quick start, recording four sacks in a September game. In the playoffs the Giants defeated the [[Los Angeles Rams]] 16–13, but lost 21–10 to the eventual champion 49ers.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070409000312/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1984 1984 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref>

In contrast to the previous season the Giants headed into the [[1985 NFL season|1985 season]] with a sense of optimism after their successful 1984 campaign and a 5–0 pre-season record.<ref name="5-0">Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/31/sports/giants-end-summer-5-0-mowatt-injured.html Giants end Summer 5-0 Mowatt injured], ''The New York Times'', August 31, 1985, accessed June 17, 2020.</ref> The Giants went 10–6, and Taylor spearheaded a defense that led the NFL in sacks with 68.<ref>Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 807</ref> Taylor had 13. One of the more memorable plays of his career occurred during this season. On a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game against the Redskins, Taylor's sack of Redskins quarterback [[Joe Theismann]] inadvertently resulted in a [[bone fracture|compound fracture]] of Theismann's right leg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18074038 |title=LT remembers Theismann's brutal injury: 'I've seen a lot worse hits' |date=November 18, 2016 |website=ESPN |language=en |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> After the sack, a distraught Taylor screamed for [[paramedics]] to attend to Theismann. Although this sack ended Theismann's career, Theismann has never blamed Taylor for the injury. Taylor says he has never seen video of the play and never wants to.<ref>{{cite web |title=LT remembers Theismann's brutal injury: 'I've seen a lot worse hits' |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18074038/lawrence-taylor-remembers-joe-theismann-injury-seen-lot-worse-hits-nfl |website=ESPN |access-date=May 13, 2021 |language=en |date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> During the first round of the playoffs, the Giants defeated the defending champion 49ers 17–3, but lost to the eventual champion Chicago Bears in the second round 21–0.<ref name="1985NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070408083544/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1985 1985 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref>

===Mid-career and championships: 1986–1990===
In 1986, Taylor had one of the most successful seasons by a defensive player in the history of the NFL. He recorded a league-leading 20.5 sacks and became one of just two defensive players to win the NFL [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] award and the only defensive player to be the unanimous selection for MVP.<ref name="L.T.">[[Nick Charles (sportscaster)|Charles, Nick]]. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071225053451/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/08/06/pageone_lawrencetaylor/index.html Taylor made: 'L.T.' has a date with Canton, destiny]}}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, August 12, 1999, accessed January 29, 2007. Note: Taylor is still the only defensive player to win the award unanimously, as of 2010 he is the last defensive player to win it.</ref><ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0109692.html Lawrence Taylor], [[Infoplease|infoplease.com]], accessed March 23, 2007.</ref><ref>Sprechman and Shannon. pg. 13</ref> He also was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time. The [[1986 New York Giants season|Giants finished the season 14–2]] and outscored San Francisco and [[Washington Redskins|Washington]] by a combined score of 66–3 in the NFC playoffs.<ref name="1986NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208114300/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=NFL&yr=1986 1986 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 22, 2007.</ref> He appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' alone the week leading up to Super Bowl XXI with a warning from the magazine to the [[Denver Broncos]] regarding Taylor.<ref>''Sports Illustrated''. [https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/01/26/702365 Volume 66 Issue 4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612062459/http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/1987/0126.html |date=June 12, 2007 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, January 26, 1987, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> The Giants overcame a slow start in Super Bowl XXI to defeat Denver 39–20.<ref name="1986NYG"/> Taylor made a key touchdown preventing tackle on a goal line play in the first half, stopping Broncos quarterback [[John Elway]] as he sprinted out on a rollout.

With the Super Bowl win, Taylor capped off an unprecedented start to his career. After six years, he had been named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (1981), NFL Defensive Player of the Year a record three times (1981, 1982, 1986), First-team All-Pro six times,<ref name="hof"/> become the first defensive player in NFL history unanimously voted the league's MVP (1986), and led his team to a championship (1986). After the win, however, Taylor felt let down rather than elated. Taylor said:<ref>Taylor and Serby. pg. 105</ref>

{{blockquote|text=When the Super Bowl was over {{omission}} Everyone was so excited, but by then I felt deflated. I'd won every award, had my best season, finally won the Super Bowl. I was on top of the world right? So what could be next? ''Nothing.'' The thrill is the chase to get to the top. Every day the excitement builds and builds and builds, and then when you're finally there and the game is over {{omission}}

And then, nothing.}}

The Giants appeared to have a bright future coming off their 1986 championship season as they were one of the younger teams in the league. They struggled the next season however, falling to 6–9 in the strike-shortened [[1987 NFL season|1987 season]].<ref name="1987NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070410074513/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1987 1987 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> Taylor caused strife in the locker room when he broke the picket line after early struggles by the team. He explained his decision by saying "The Giants are losing. And I'm losing $60,000 a week."<ref>{{cite web|first=Harvey|last=Araton|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/11/sports/sports-of-the-times-lt-s-rush-helped-sack-phil-simms.html?scp=11&sq=Phil%20Simms&st=cse|title=Sports of The Times; L.T.'s Rush Helped Sack Phil Simms|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 11, 1994|accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> He finished the season as the team leader in sacks with 12 in 12 games played,<ref name="1987NYG"/> but missed a game due to a hamstring injury, ending his consecutive games played streak at 106.<ref>Pervin. pgs. 102–3</ref>

The Giants looked to rebound to their championship ways in 1988 but the start of the season was marred by controversy surrounding Taylor. He tested positive for cocaine and was suspended by the league for thirty days, as it was his second violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. The first result in 1987 had been kept private and was not known to the public at the time. He was kept away from the press during this period and checked himself into rehab in early September.<ref name="coke">{{cite web|first=Al|last=Harvin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/03/sports/nfl-taylor-entering-rehabilitation.html|title=N.F.L.; Taylor Entering Rehabilitation|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 3, 1988|accessdate=December 7, 2021}}</ref> Taylor's over-the-edge lifestyle was becoming an increasing concern for fans and team officials. This was especially true given the eventual career paths of talented players like Hollywood Henderson and others whose drug problems derailed their careers. The Giants went 2–2 in the games Taylor missed. When Taylor returned he was his usual dominant self as he led the team in sacks again, with 15.5 in 12 games played.<ref name="1988NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208212622/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=NFL&yr=1988 1988 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> The season also contained some of the more memorable moments of Taylor's career. In a crucial late-season game with playoff implications against the New Orleans Saints, Taylor played through a torn pectoral muscle to record seven tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.<ref name="hof"/><ref name="redefine">{{cite web|first=Larry|last=Schwartz|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/taylorlawrenceadd.html|title=Taylor redefined the outside linebacker position|website=[[ESPN]]|date=November 19, 2003|accessdate=February 21, 2007}}</ref> Taylor's presence in the lineup was important as the Giants' offense was having trouble mounting drives, and was dominated in time of possession.<ref name="box">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071223011502/http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/gamedata.htm?dy=27&mth=11&yr=1988&tm=NOR&lg=NFL Box score No vs. NYG 11/27/1988]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 21, 2007.</ref> Television cameras repeatedly cut to the sidelines to show him in extreme physical pain as he was being attended to by the Giants staff. Taylor had already developed a reputation for playing through pain; in a 1983 game against the Eagles the team's training staff had to hide his helmet to prevent the injured Taylor from returning to the field.<ref>Russo & Allen. pg. 135</ref> Taylor's shoulder was so injured that he had to wear a harness to keep it in its place.<ref name="hof"/> The Giants held on for a 13–12 win, and Parcells later called Taylor's performance "[t]he greatest game I ever saw."<ref>Gutman. pg. 132</ref> However, the Giants narrowly missed the playoffs in 1988 at 10–6 by losing [[NFL playoffs#Current playoff system|tie-breakers]] with the [[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]] in their division and the [[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]] for the Wild card.<ref name="1988NYG"/>

In 1989, Taylor recorded 15 sacks.<ref name="dbf"/> He was forced to play the latter portion of the season with a fractured [[tibia]], suffered in a 34–24 loss to the 49ers in week 12, which caused him to sit out the second half of several games.<ref name="tibia">* {{cite web|first=Frank|last=Litsky|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/02/sports/taylor-s-ankle-is-broken-but-he-feels-better.html|title=Taylor's Ankle Is Broken, but He Feels Better|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 2, 1989|accessdate=December 7, 2021}}<br/>* Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/03/sports/sports-of-the-times-will-l-t-try-to-play-on-a-broken-ankle.html SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Will L. T. Try to Play on a Broken Ankle?], ''The New York Times'', December 3, 1989, accessed December 7, 2021. <br/>*Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/04/sports/despite-fracture-taylor-plays.html Despite Fracture, Taylor Plays], ''The New York Times'', December 4, 1989, accessed December 7, 2021. <br/>*Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/04/sports/sports-of-the-times-aggravating-is-kind-word.html SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Aggravating Is Kind Word], ''The New York Times'', December 4, 1989, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> Despite his off-the-field problems, Taylor remained popular among his teammates and was voted defensive co-captain along with Carl Banks.<ref name="teammate">''The New York Times''. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/18/sports/sports-of-the-times-lt-as-in-leadership-thing.html Sports of The Times; L.T., as in 'Leadership Thing'], September 18, 1989, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> The two filled the defensive captain's spot vacated by the retired Harry Carson.<ref name="teammate"/> The retirement of the nine-time Pro Bowler Carson, broke up the Giants linebacker corps of Carson, Reasons, Banks, and Taylor, which spearheaded the team's defense nicknamed the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" in the 1980s. The Giants went 12–4,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070410143114/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1989 1989 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> and advanced to [[1989–90 NFL playoffs|the playoffs]]. In an exciting, down-to-the-wire game, the Rams eliminated the Giants 19–13 in the first round, despite Taylor's two sacks and one forced fumble.<ref>Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/08/sports/rams-win-toss-and-game-as-giants-season-ends.html Rams Win Toss and Game as Giants' Season Ends], ''The New York Times'', January 8, 1990, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref>

Taylor held out of training camp before the [[1990 NFL season|1990 season]], demanding a new contract with a salary of $2 million per year.<ref name="L.T. holdout">Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/22/sports/sports-of-the-times-why-l-t-deserves-2-million.html Sports Of The Times; Why L. T. Deserves $2 Million], ''The New York Times'', July 22, 1990, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> Talks dragged into September with neither side budging, and as the season approached Taylor received fines at the rate of $2,500 a day.<ref>Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/01/sports/football-giants-and-marshall-settle-but-talks-on-taylor-stall.html Giants and Marshall Settle But Talks on Taylor Stall], ''The New York Times'', September 1, 1990, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> He signed a three-year $5 million contract (making him the highest paid defensive player in the league<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=q68DAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Lawrence+Taylor+%22&pg=PA46 Taylor's Contract Makes him Highest Paid], ''JET'', pg. 46, September 24, 1990.</ref>) just four days before the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite sitting out training camp and the preseason, Taylor recorded three sacks and a forced fumble against the Eagles.<ref>Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/15/sports/fottball-marshall-struggles-to-regain-job.html FOOTBALL; (sic) Marshall Struggles to Regain Job], ''The New York Times'', September 15, 1990, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> He finished with 10.5 sacks and earned his 10th [[Pro Bowl]] in as many years, although the season marked the first time in Taylor's career that he was not selected First-team All-Pro.<ref name="hof"/> The Giants started out 10–0 and [[1990 New York Giants season|finished with a 13–3 record]]. In the playoffs, the Giants defeated the Bears 31–3,<ref name="1990NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207033604/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&yr=1990&lg=nfl 1990 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> and faced the rival 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Giants won 15–13,<ref name="1990NYG" /> after Taylor beat two successive blocks by 49ers tight end [[Brent Jones]] and fullback [[Tom Rathman]] to get into the 49ers offensive backfield to be in position to recover a key fumble by [[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]] forced by nose tackle [[Erik Howard]] late in the game to set up [[Matt Bahr]]'s game-winning field goal. In [[Super Bowl XXV]], they played the [[Buffalo Bills]] and won one of the more entertaining Super Bowls in history, 20-19,<ref name="1990NYG"/> after Buffalo's [[Scott Norwood]] [[Wide Right (Buffalo Bills)|missed a potential game-winning field goal in the closing seconds of the game]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/super-bowl-xxv-pictures-of-the-new-york-giants-vs-buffalo-bills-from-jan-27-1991-1.13018281 |title=Jan. 27, 1991: Giants beat Bills in Scott Norwood game |website=Newsday |language=en |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>

===Final years and decline: 1991–1993===
Following the 1990 season, Parcells, with whom Taylor had become very close,<ref>Rosenberg, Sid. [http://www.fhmonline.com/articles-187.asp Lawrence Taylor interview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011955/http://www.fhmonline.com/articles-187.asp |date=September 27, 2007 }}, [[fhmonline.com]], accessed February 23, 2007.</ref> retired, and the team was taken over by [[Ray Handley]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/05/15/Parcells-steps-down-Handley-replaces-him/3008042540677/ |title=Parcells steps down; Handley replaces him |website=UPI |language=en |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> 1991 marked a steep decline in Taylor's production. It became the first season in his career in which he failed to make the Pro Bowl squad, after setting a then record by making it in his first ten years in the league. Taylor finished with 7 sacks in 14 games<ref name="dbf"/> and the Giants defense, while still respectable, was no longer one of the top units in the league.

Taylor rebounded in the early stages of what many thought would be his final season in 1992. Through close to nine games, Taylor was on pace for 10 sacks and the Giants were 5–4.<ref name="1992NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070408153055/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1992 1992 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 20, 2007.</ref> However, a ruptured [[Achilles tendon]] suffered in a game on November 8, 1992, against [[Green Bay Packers|Green Bay]]<ref name="Achilles">Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-life-without-lt-begins-and-giants-find-it-a-struggle.html Sports of the Times; Life Without L.T. Begins, and Giants Find It a Struggle], ''The New York Times'', November 16, 1992, accessed March 23, 2008.</ref> sidelined him for the final seven games, during which the team went 1–6.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070408153055/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1992 1992 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> Before the injury Taylor had missed only four games due to injury in his 12-year career.<ref name="Achilles"/> Throughout the 1992 season, and the ensuing offseason, Taylor was noncommittal about his future, alternately saying he might retire, then later hinting he wanted a longer-term contract.<ref>Eskenazi, Gerald. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/31/sports/pro-football-giants-want-taylor-for-a-year-he-wants-more.html PRO FOOTBALL; Giants Want Taylor for a Year; He Wants More], ''The New York Times'', March 31, 1993, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref>

Taylor returned for the [[1993 NFL season|1993 season]] enticed by the chance to play with a new coach ([[Dan Reeves]]),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-12-19-1993353147-story.html |title=Giant steps: Reeves directs team's ascent |last=Murray |first=Ken |website=The Baltimore Sun |date=December 19, 1993 |language=en-US |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> and determined not to end his career due to an injury. The Giants had a resurgent season in 1993. They finished 11–5, and competed for the top NFC playoff seed.<ref name="1993NYG"/> Taylor finished with 6 sacks,<ref name="1993NYG">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205165123/http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=NFL&yr=1993 1993 New York Giants]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed February 18, 2007.</ref> and the Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070408173530/http://www.databasefootball.com/leagues/leagueyear.htm?yr=1993&lg=NFL 1993 NFL Standings, Stats and Awards]}}, databasefootball.com, accessed March 15, 2007.</ref> They defeated the Minnesota Vikings 17–10 in the opening round of the playoffs.<ref name="1993NYG"/> The next week on January 15, 1994, in what would be Taylor's final game, the Giants were beaten 44–3 by the San Francisco 49ers.<ref name="1993NYG"/> As the game came to a conclusion, television cameras drew in close on Taylor who was crying. He announced his retirement at the post-game press conference saying, "I think it's time for me to retire. I've done everything I can do. I've been to Super Bowls. I've been to playoffs. I've done things that other people haven't been able to do in this game before. After 13 years, it's time for me to go."<ref>Anderson, Dave. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-lt-decides-it-s-time-for-me-to-go.html Sports of The Times; L.T. Decides 'It's Time For Me to Go'], ''The New York Times'', January 16, 1994, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref>

Taylor ended his career with 1,089 tackles, 132.5 sacks (plus 9.5 tallied as a rookie before the stat was officially recognized), nine interceptions, 134 return yards, two touchdowns, 33 forced fumbles (56 verified by [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kEkivKQ2I video]), 11 fumble recoveries, and 34 fumble return yards.<ref name="hof"/>

==Legacy==
{{blockquote|text=He arrived in the NFL, like an emissary from another planet.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/sports/a42791337/lawrence-taylor-nfl-giants-linebacker-football-101/|title=Lawrence Taylor Was the Apex Predator of the NFL|website=Esquire|date=February 8, 2023 |access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref>|author=[[Paul Zimmerman (sportswriter)]]}}
{{blockquote|text=Lawrence Taylor, defensively, has had as big an impact as any player I've ever seen. He changed the way defense is played, the way pass-rushing is played, the way linebackers play and the way offenses block linebackers.<ref name="espn"/><ref name="Wal238"/>|author=[[John Madden]]}}

Taylor is considered one of the best players to ever play in the NFL, and has been ranked as the top defensive player in league history by some news outlets, media members, former players and coaches.<ref name="espn"/><ref name="Bob"/><ref name="goat">Smith and Moritz. Note: ''The Sporting News'' has Taylor ranked fourth behind only offensive players [[Jim Brown]], [[Jerry Rice]], and [[Joe Montana]]. See {{cite web |url=http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/4.html |title=here for web verification |access-date=January 30, 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211072227/http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/4.html |archive-date=December 11, 2007 }}, for a link to the top three players hit the "back" button on the bottom of the page. <br/>*Smith, Stephen. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfls-top-100-players-of-all-time-debate/ NFL's Top 100 Players of All-Time: Debate], November 5, 2010, accessed November 8, 2010. Note: This list made by the [[NFL Network]], ranks him third overall, behind two offensive players (Rice and Brown).<br/>* [https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=2823763&type=story Best defensive player in NFL history?], espn.com, March 26, 2007, accessed April 17, 2007. <br/>* Celizic, Mike. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130104072529/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9218972/wid/6448213/ No way Rice is greatest player ever: 42-year-old might be best WR ever, but Brown, LT are best players]}}, msnbc.com, September 6, 2005, accessed February 24, 2007. <br />* Prisco, Pete. [http://sportsline.com/nfl/story/9905724 Year-End Awards: Can Tomlinson steal L.T. nickname?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128095213/http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9905724 |date=January 28, 2007 }}, cbssportsline.com, January 3, 2007, accessed April 17, 2007. <br />* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/27/taylor_pkg/ Does LT's conduct make him Hall of Fame worthy?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206000919/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/27/taylor_pkg/ |date=December 6, 2008 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, accessed January 29, 2007. <br/>* Barall, Andy. [http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/jim-brown-should-be-no-1-but-what-about-most-underrated/ Jim Brown Should Be No. 1, but What About Most Underrated?], ''The New York Times'', November 5, 2010, accessed November 23, 2010.<br/>* Joyner, K.C. [https://insider.espn.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=3312830 Taylor's level of dominance not seen in today's game], espn.com, March 27, 2008, accessed June 17, 2020. <br/>* Taylor and Serby. pgs. 251–260 ("Props" chapter, includes quotes from players and coaches)<br/>* Feldman, Bruce. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130103010449/http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2798343&searchName=feldman_bruce Ten who should be in]}}, espn.com, March 14, 2007, accessed May 6, 2007.</ref> He has also been described as one of the most "feared" and "intimidating" players in NFL history.<ref name="espn"/><ref name="cbs">[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lt-over-the-edge-642605/ L.T. Over The Edge], CBS News, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> Taylor's explosive speed and power is credited with changing the outside linebacker position from one of "read and react" to aggression and attack.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/other/innovations.html End of Century – ESPN.com's Ten important innovations], ESPN, accessed June 17, 2020. <br/>* Frostino. pg. 204 <br/>* Montana and Weiner. pg. 207 <br/>* Kirwan, Pat. [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9544216 Summer reading: The greatest game-changers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060710211945/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9544216 |date=July 10, 2006 }}, NFL.com, July 7, 2006, accessed May 7, 2007. <br/>* Rand. pg. ii</ref>
{{blockquote|text=I always get a kick out of people that talk about, 'Well, this player was like that player,' It’s like, 'Listen, no, there isn’t another Lawrence Taylor.' To me, he’s the standard by which you measure everything.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2021/09/06/new-york-giants-lawrence-taylor-ranked-no-4-the-athletic-all-time-top-100/79968904007/|title=Giants legend Lawrence Taylor ranked No. 4 on The Athletic's All-Time Top 100|website=Giants Wire|access-date=April 19, 2025}}</ref>|author=[[Joe Theismann]]}}

Washington Redskins head coach [[Joe Gibbs]] developed the two [[tight end]] offense and the position of [[H-back]] to prevent Taylor from blitzing into the backfield unhindered.<ref name="L.T."/><ref>[http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4062 The Polian Corner] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022114800/http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4062 |date=October 22, 2006 }}, colts.com, September 20, 2006, accessed March 18, 2007.</ref> "We had to try in some way have a special game plan just for Lawrence Taylor. Now you didn't do that very often in this league but I think he's one person that we learned the lesson the hard way. We lost ball games."<ref name="L.T."/><ref name="Wal238">Walsh. pg. 238</ref> His skills changed the way offensive coaches blocked linebackers. In the late '70s and early '80s, a blitzing linebacker was picked up by a running back. However, these players were no match for Taylor.<ref>Schwartz. pg. 142</ref> The tactic employed by San Francisco 49ers head coach [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]] in the 1982 playoffs, using an offensive guard to block Taylor, was copied around the league. However, this left a hole in pass protection that a blitzing middle linebacker could exploit. Later, Walsh and other coaches began using offensive tackles to block Taylor. Later it became common for offensive linemen to pick up blitzing linebackers. In addition to the changes in offensive schemes Taylor influenced, he also introduced new defensive techniques to the game, such as chopping the ball out of a quarterback's hands (to potentially force a more valuable turnover) rather than simply tackling him for a loss.<ref name="encarta">[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579396/Lawrence_Taylor.html Lawrence Taylor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829003515/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579396/Lawrence_Taylor.html |date=August 29, 2009 }}, encarta.msn.com, accessed January 29, 2007. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090829003515/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579396/Lawrence_Taylor.html Archived]}} October 31, 2009.</ref> This exemplified a team-first strategy that dampened Taylor’s sack totals while increasing the prospects of Giants success.

==Drug and lifestyle problems==
{{blockquote|text=For me, crazy as it seems, there is a real relationship between wild, reckless abandon off the field and being that way on the field.|author=Taylor|source=in 1987<ref>Taylor and Falkner, p. 189.</ref>}}

Taylor began using illicit drugs during his professional rookie season, 1981–1982.<ref>Taylor and Serby, p. 89.</ref>  He would pass the NFL's drug tests, however, by routinely obtaining his teammates' urine to submit as his own urine samples.<ref name="cbs"/>

As his drug habit escalated, he would spend up to thousands of dollars a day on "coke and women."<ref name="cbs"/> His first wife, Linda, once had to pick him up from a crack house.<ref name="Lu82">Lupica, p. 82.</ref> And he once attended a team meeting still handcuffed from the night before by some "ladies that were trying out some new equipment", but "just didn't happen to have the key", he would recall.<ref name="cbs"/>

In 1987, he finally tested positive for cocaine, and admitted to using it. The next year, 1988, he failed a second drug test, whereupon the NFL suspended him for 30 days. With that, he abstained from drugs until his 1993 retirement, as a third failed drug test would end his career.<ref name="cbs"/> Yet he would later recall that in retiring, "I saw blow as the only bright spot in my future."<ref>Taylor and Serby, p. 161.</ref>

During 1995, he went through drug rehab twice. But over the next three years, he was arrested twice, via undercover police officers, for attempts to buy cocaine.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016489.html Taylor ranked 40th-best athlete], espn.com, accessed May 3, 2007.</ref> Meanwhile, he associated mainly with drug users, and his home usually had white sheets over its windows.<ref name="cbs"/> "I had gotten really bad. I mean my place was almost like a [[crack house]]," Taylor would later explain.<ref name="cbs"/>

==Post-NFL life==

===Investments===
In Taylor's final year in the NFL, he started a company called All-Pro Products. The company [[Initial public offering|went public]] at $5 a share, and tripled in value during its first month. The stock price reached $16.50 a share, at which point Taylor's stake had an estimated value of over $10 million.<ref name="Norris">Norris, Floyd. [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/23/business/sec-says-3-rigged-stock-in-football-star-s-company.html S.E.C. Says 3 Rigged Stock In Football Star's Company], ''The New York Times'', September 23, 1995, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> The company ceased production shortly thereafter however, and Taylor, who never sold his stock, lost several hundred thousand dollars. He had been defrauded by several members of the [[penny stock]] firm Hanover Sterling & Company, who had [[Short selling|short sold]] the company's stock, making it worthless.<ref>Henriques, Diana B. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/18/business/and-they-all-came-tumbling-down-short-seller-levels-a-wall-st-institution.html And They All Came Tumbling Down;Short-Seller Levels a Wall St. Institution], ''The New York Times'', April 18, 1996, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref> The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] ruled that two traders had manipulated the price of the stock,<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n23_v88/ai_17639255 Ex-football star Lawrence Taylor falls victim to stock fraud.(Securities and Exchange Commission fines Robert Catoggio and Ronan Garber)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103184538/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n23_v88/ai_17639255 |date=January 3, 2009 }}, ''[[Jet (magazine)|JET]]'', October 16, 1995, accessed April 21, 2007.</ref> which skyrocketed while the company was losing over $900,000.

===Tax issues===
In 1997, Taylor pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 1990, and in 2000 he was "sentenced to three months of house arrest, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service for tax evasion."<ref name="yahoo"/> 
[[File:LT portrait.jpg|thumb|280px|Taylor on the golf course in 2007]]

===Television pundit===
After his career ended, Taylor worked in several regular television jobs. He first worked as a football analyst for the now defunct ''[[TNT Sunday Night Football]]''.<ref name="redefine"/> In a one-off show, Taylor also appeared as a wrestler in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]], defeating [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] in the main event of [[WrestleMania XI]].<ref name="redefine"/> He also worked as a color commentator on an amateur fighting program entitled ''Toughman'' on the [[FX Network|FX]] channel.<ref>Associated Press. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_19990716/ai_n11731532 Strange: A broadcaster who still plays] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104214751/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_19990716/ai_n11731532 |date=January 4, 2009 }}, ''[[The Topeka Capital-Journal]]'', available online via findarticles.com, July 16, 1999, accessed April 11, 2007.</ref> On September 4, 1995, the Giants retired [[Phil Simms]]' jersey during [[halftime]] of a game against the Cowboys (Taylor had his number retired the year before). Simms celebrated the moment by throwing an impromptu ceremonial pass to Taylor. Simms recalled, "[a]ll of a sudden it kind of hit me, I've put Lawrence in a really tough spot; national TV, he's got dress shoes and a sports jacket on, and he's had a few beers and he's going to run down the field and I'm going to throw him a pass."<ref name="NFL">[[NFL Films]], [[NFL Network]], accessed April 22, 2007.</ref> Simms motioned for Taylor to run a long pattern and after 30–40&nbsp;yards threw him the pass. Taylor later said the situation made him more nervous than any play of his career, "I'm saying to myself (as the pass is being thrown), 'If I drop this pass, I got to run my black ass all the way back to [[Upper Saddle River, New Jersey|Upper Saddle River]] because there ain't no way I'm going to be able to stay in that stadium'."<ref name="NFL"/> Taylor caught the pass, however, and the capacity crowd in attendance cheered in approval.<ref>George, Thomas. [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/05/sports/on-pro-football-the-giants-best-play-of-the-dallas-game-was-simms-to-l-t.html ON PRO FOOTBALL; The Giants' Best Play Of the Dallas Game Was Simms to L. T.], ''The New York Times'', September 5, 1995, accessed December 7, 2021.</ref>

===Movies & video games===
Taylor pursued a career in acting, appearing in the [[Oliver Stone]] movie ''[[Any Given Sunday]]'' where he played a character much like himself. He appeared as himself in the [[HBO]] series ''[[The Sopranos]]'' and the film ''[[The Waterboy]]''. He also had a role in the [[Shaft (2000 film)|2000 version of ''Shaft'']]. Taylor voiced the steroid-riddled, possibly insane former football player B.J. Smith in the [[video game]], ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]''. The character poked fun at his fearsome, drug-fueled public image. He also added his voice to the video game ''[[Blitz: The League]]'' and [[Blitz: The League II|its sequel]], which were partially based on his life in the NFL.<ref>Thomas, Vincent.[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/01/01/new-video-games-hype-bawdy-off-field-antics/ New video games hype bawdy off-field antics], ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'', January 1, 2006, accessed February 24, 2007.</ref> He also acted in the 2000 [[Christian film]] ''[[Mercy Streets]]'' with [[Eric Roberts]] and [[Stacy Keach]], and the 2003 prison movie ''[[In Hell]]'' with [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243415/ Mercy Streets], IMDb, accessed November 29, 2010.*<br/>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339135/ In Hell], IMDb, accessed November 29, 2010.</ref>

===Hall of Fame induction===
In 1999, when Taylor became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there were some concerns his hard-partying lifestyle and drug abuse would hurt his candidacy.<ref name="hall?">[http://media.cnnsi.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/30/halloffame_voting/ LT gets the OK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015213/http://media.cnnsi.com/football/nfl/news/1999/01/30/halloffame_voting/ |date=September 30, 2007 }}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, January 30, 1999, accessed May 3, 2007.</ref> These concerns proved to be ill-founded, however, as he was voted in on the first ballot. His son Lawrence Taylor Jr. gave his introduction speech at the induction ceremony.<ref name="induct">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130119105636/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1999/08/07/halloffame_ceremony_ap/ Five for the ages: Pro Football Hall of Fame inducts five more members]}}, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, accessed February 17, 2007.</ref> Taylor's ex-wife, his three children, and his parents were in attendance and during his induction speech Taylor acknowledged them saying, "thank you for putting up with me for all those years."<ref name="induct"/> He also credited former Giants owner [[Wellington Mara]] for being supportive of him saying, "[h]e probably cared more about me as a person than he really should have."<ref name="induct"/>

===Autobiography===
In 2004, Taylor released an [[autobiography]], ''LT: Over the Edge''.<ref name="cbs"/> Taylor often spoke of his NFL years, which he played with reckless abandon, and the drug-abusing stages of his life as the "L.T." periods of his life. He described "L.T." as an adrenaline junkie who lived life on a thrill ride. Taylor said in 2003 that "L. T. died a long time ago, and I don't miss him at all ... all that's left is Lawrence Taylor."<ref name="Losing himself"/>

===Advertising and television===
[[File:Lawrence Taylor signing autographs in Jan 2014.jpg|thumb|Taylor signing autographs at a collectors show in Houston in January 2014]]
Taylor re-emerged into the public eye in July 2006, after appearing on the cover of a ''Sports Illustrated'' issue dedicated to former athletes and sport figures. In the magazine, Taylor credited his hobby of [[golf]] with helping him get over his previous hard-partying ways and drug filled lifestyle.<ref>''Sports Illustrated''. Volume 105, issue 1. July 3, 2006.</ref> He co-founded eXfuze, a [[Multi-level marketing|network marketing]] company based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Along with former NFL players, such as [[Eric Dickerson]] and [[Seth Joyner]], he was a spokesman for Seven+, the flagship multi-botanical drink produced by the company.<ref>[http://www.exfuze.com/AllStars.aspx All Stars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821063554/http://www.exfuze.com/AllStars.aspx |date=August 21, 2008 }}, exfuse.com, accessed October 5, 2010.</ref> His son Brandon signed a national letter to play with the [[Purdue Boilermakers]].<ref>[http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020409aam.html Seventeen sign Letters-of-Intent; class of 2009 numbers 20 in all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207061210/http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020409aam.html |date=February 7, 2009 }} purduesports.com, February 2, 2009, accessed October 6, 2010.</ref> Taylor was a contestant on the [[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 8)|8th season]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars]]'',<ref>[http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/02/09/dancing%E2%80%99s-season-eight-cast-is-revealed/ "Dancing's Season Eight Cast Is Revealed! – PEOPLE TV Watch"], tvwatch.com, September 2, 2009, accessed October 5, 2010.</ref> partnered with [[Edyta Śliwińska]]. He was eliminated in the seventh week on the April 21, 2009, show.<ref>Barrett, Annie. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20274063,00.html 'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Suited to a Tee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425022423/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20274063,00.html |date=April 25, 2009 }}, ew.com, April 21, 2009, accessed October 5, 2010.</ref>

===Legal troubles===
In 2009, Taylor started having troubles in his personal life again. On November 8, he was arrested in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida]] for leaving the scene of an accident after striking another vehicle with his [[Cadillac Escalade]].<ref name="yahoo">[https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ys-taylortimeline050710 Lawrence Taylor Timeline], yahoosports.com, May 7, 2010, accessed November 29, 2010.</ref> He had already committed the same offense in 1996 when he totaled his [[Lexus]] in a one-car accident and left the scene, saying he did not think the law required the reporting of a single driver incident.<ref>Jamieson, Wendell. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1996/05/18/1996-05-18_lt_cited_for_leaving_scene_o.html LT Cited For Leaving Scene of Wreck]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''New York Daily News'', May 18, 1996, accessed November 29, 2010.</ref> He was released on a $500 bond, and the other driver later sued him, seeking $15,000.<ref>Maske, Mark. [http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/tmz-reports-lawrence-taylor-busted.html TMZ reports Lawrence Taylor busted] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115002202/http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/11/tmz-reports-lawrence-taylor-busted.html |date=November 15, 2009 }}, ''The Washington Post'', November 6, 2009, accessed October 5, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency=[[Tribune News Services]]|url=http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/ex-giants-star-taylor-sued-over-car-crash.html|title=Ex-Giants star Taylor sued over car crash|website=Chicago Breaking Sports|date=May 20, 2010|accessdate=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

In May 2010, Taylor was arrested for [[statutory rape]] of a 16-year-old girl, at a [[Holiday Inn]] located in [[Montebello, New York]].<ref name="Rape-NYTimes">{{cite web|first=Lynn|last=Zinser|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/sports/football/07taylor.html|title=Lawrence Taylor Arrested After Rape Allegation|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 6, 2010|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}</ref> He was charged with felony third-degree statutory rape, for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with someone under 17.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/06/lawrence.taylor.rape.case/index.html?hpt=T1|title=NFL Hall of Famer charged in rape case|website=[[CNN]]|date=May 7, 2010|accessdate=October 5, 2010}}</ref> He was also charged with third-degree patronization for allegedly paying the underage girl $300 to have sex with him.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Maske|title=Taylor arrested, charged with rape|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 7, 2010}}</ref> The girl told investigators that her pimp commanded her to tell Taylor that she was 19, which Taylor corroborated. The pimp, 36-year old Rasheed Davis, was charged with federal [[child sex trafficking]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2010 |title=Lawrence Taylor Child Prostitute Lied About Her Age: TMZ |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lawrence-taylor-child-pro_n_567994 |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=[[Huffington Post]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2011 |title=Lawrence Taylor on 16-year-old prostitute: "I don't card them" |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/23/lawrence-taylor-on-16-year-old-i-dont-card-them/ |access-date=January 22, 2023 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}}</ref> The girl was represented by celebrity attorney [[Gloria Allred]] when Taylor pleaded guilty on March 22, 2011. Taylor was sentenced to six years probation as part of a plea agreement, in which he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. He also [[Sex offender registry|registered]] as a low-risk, level-one [[sex offender]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-legend-lawrence-taylor-pleads-guilty-to-sexual-misconduct/|title=NFL Legend Lawrence Taylor Pleads Guilty to Sexual Misconduct|website=[[Fox News]] |date=January 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>Fitzgerald, Jim. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/lawrence-taylor-sex-offender-low-risk_n_848109.html Lawrence Taylor Declared Low-Risk Sex Offender] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204181516/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/12/lawrence-taylor-sex-offender-low-risk_n_848109.html |date=December 4, 2011 }}, [[Huffington Post]], April 12, 2011, accessed September 20, 2011.</ref> On October 26, 2012, a court rejected the victim's claims that Taylor assaulted her.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/lawrence-taylor-ex-new-york-giant-wins-teen-sex-case-0ap1000000085933|title=Lawrence Taylor, ex-New York Giant, wins teen sex case|work=[[National Football League]]|date=October 26, 2012|access-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref>

As of 2016, Taylor resides in [[Pembroke Pines, Florida]].<ref name="Losing himself">{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Anderson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/28/sports/pro-football-losing-himself-to-find-himself.html|title=PRO FOOTBALL; Losing Himself to Find Himself|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 28, 2003|accessdate=December 7, 2021}}</ref> On June 9, 2016, Taylor's wife was arrested for [[domestic violence]] in Florida after she threw "an unknown object" and struck Taylor in the back of the head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/wife-lawrence-taylor-busted-domestic-violence-article-1.2659809|title=Giants great Lawrence Taylor's wife busted for hitting his head|website=[[New York Daily News]]|date=June 9, 2016|access-date=June 15, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307075955/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/wife-lawrence-taylor-busted-domestic-violence-article-1.2659809|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2021, Taylor was once again divorced.<ref name=taylorcharges />

In May 2017, Taylor put up for [[auction]] the [[Vince Lombardi]] mini statue he had won for the [[Super Bowl XXV]] win.<ref name=auction>{{cite news |last=Rovell|first=Darren |date=May 2, 2017 |title=Lawrence Taylor puts mini Lombardi Trophy up for auction |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19294268/lawrence-taylor-mini-lombardi-trophy-new-york-giants-auction|work=[[ESPN]] |access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref> The next month he [[guilty plea|pleaded guilty]] to [[DUI|driving under the influence of alcohol]] following a September 2, 2016 crash into a stopped police car in [[Palm Beach County, Florida]]. The two [[breathalyzer]] tests taken five hours after the crash measured Taylor's blood-alcohol level at .082 and .084, above the Florida legal limit of .080.<ref name=dui>{{cite magazine |last=Gartland |first=Dan |date=June 19, 2017 |title=Lawrence Taylor pleads guilty to DUI after crashing into police car|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/06/19/giants-lawrence-taylor-dui-guilty-plea-florida |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |access-date=January 12, 2020}}</ref>

In December 2021, Taylor was arrested after again failing to report his new address, which was required due to his status as a registered sex offender.<ref name=arrestandrelease>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-entertainment-lawrence-taylor-arrests-c132f6917890586f7eeb490430a08f49|title=Lawrence Taylor charged with failing to report new address|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 20, 2021|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name=secondnewaddressarrest>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5645863/2024/07/18/lawrence-taylor-arrest-florida/|title=Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor arrested in Florida on felony warrant|first=Amos III|last=Morale|website=[[The Athletic]]|date=July 18, 2024|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref> He was released shortly afterwards after posting a $500 bail.<ref name=arrestandrelease /> Taylor blamed his recent divorce for not updating authorities about the 2021 address change.<ref name=taylorcharges>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/lawrence-taylor-nfl-charged-florida-152a808ded5b29e5ea71b6110bd5209d|title=Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor charged with failing to update address on sex offender registry|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=July 19, 2024|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref> In July 2024, Taylor was arrested in Florida after once again failing to report a new residency, which again resulted in Taylor avoiding to properly register as a sex offender.<ref name=arrrestnewresidencyagain>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/lawrence-taylor-is-arrested-for-failing-to-properly-register-as-sex-offender-again|title=Lawrence Taylor is arrested for failing to properly register as sex offender, again|first=Mike|last=Florio|website=[[NBC News]]|date=July 18, 2024|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name=secondnewaddressarrest /> After turning himself in, Taylor was released with no bail after spending several hours in the main [[Broward County]] jail.<ref name=taylorcharges /><ref name=arrrestnewresidencyagain /><ref name=secondnewaddressarrest /> For this second offense, Taylor was criminally charged.<ref name=taylorcharges /><ref name=charged>{{cite news|url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/new-york-giants/giants-country/news/new-york-giants-lawrence-taylor-arrest-sex-offender|title=New York Giants Legend Lawrence Taylor Arrested|first=Nick|last=Faria|website=Athlon Sports Nation|date=July 19, 2024|accessdate=July 19, 2024}}</ref><ref name=secondnewaddressarrest /> Taylor's attorney has stated that Taylor would plead not guilty, describing the incident as a "misunderstanding" rather than a criminal offense.<ref name=secondnewaddressarrest /><ref name=charged />

=== Public service ===
In 2025, Taylor was appointed by President [[Donald Trump]] to serve on the [[President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Benton |first1=Dan |title=President Trump names Lawrence Taylor to Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition |url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2025/08/01/new-york-giants-lawrence-taylor-saquon-barkley-donald-trump-council-sports-fitness-nutrition/85477778007/ |website=Giants Wire |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidents-sports-council/ |website=The White House |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ffff00; width:3em;"|
| AP [[NFL MVP]] & [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|DPOTY]]
|-
| style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"|
| NFL Defensive Player of the Year
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Team won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! rowspan="2"| Sacks
! colspan="3"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"|[[1981 NFL season|1981]] !! [[1981 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || 9.5* || 1 || 1 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 4 || 0
|-
! style="background:#00ffff; width:3em;"|[[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 9 || 8 || 7.5 || 1 || '''97''' || '''1''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || 9.0 || 2 || 10 || 0 || 4 || '''2''' || 3 || 0 
|-
! [[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || 11.5 || 1 || –1 || 0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''7''' || 0 || 0 ||0
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || 13.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''7''' || '''2''' || '''25''' || 0
|-
! style="background:#ffff00; width:3em;"|[[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1986 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''20.5''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 12 || 11 || 12.0 || '''3''' || 16 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 12 || 12 || 15.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 5 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 15 || 15.0|| 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[1990 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 16 || 10.5 || 1 || 11 || '''1''' || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 14 || 14 || 7.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || '''2''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 9 || 9 || 5.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 0
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 New York Giants season|NYG]]
| 16 || 15 || 6.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career<ref name="hof"/><ref name="dbf"/> !! 184 !! 180 !! 132.5† !! 9 !! 134 !! 2 !! 56 !! 11 !! 34 !! 0
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Unofficial statistic (sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982). However, this number is stated on Taylor's Pro Football Hall of Fame bio<ref name="hof" /> and is considered to be accurate.<br />
<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_year_by_year.htm Year-by-year sack leaders], Pro Football Reference.com, retrieved 9/22/15</ref><br />
† Including the 9.5 Taylor unofficially recorded as a rookie, his total is 142.

* NFL 'unofficial' record: 56 career forced fumbles (watch all 56 forced fumbles [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kEkivKQ2I here])

==Awards and honors==
'''NFL'''
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]])
* [[NFL Most Valuable Player]] (1986)
* 3× [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1981, 1982, 1986)
* [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] (1981)
* [[Bert Bell Award]] (1986)
* [[PFWA NFL Most Valuable Player Award|PFWA NFL MVP]] (1986)
* [[DC Touchdown Club#NFL Player of the Year awards|DC Touchdown Club NFL Player of the Year]] (1986)
* [[The Sporting News NFL Player of the Year|''Sporting News'' NFL MVP]] (1986)
* 2× [[UPI NFC Player of the Year]] (1983, 1986)
* 2× [[101 Awards#Defensive Player of the Year awards|101 Awards NFC Defensive Player of the Year]] (1984, 1986)
* [[List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards#Pro Football Writers of America|PFW NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] (1986)
* [[Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL defensive player of the year|George Halas Trophy]] (1986)
* [[List of NFL Rookie of the Year awards#Newspaper Enterprise Association|Bert Bell Memorial Trophy]] (1981)
* 10× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1982 Pro Bowl|1981]]–[[1991 Pro Bowl|1990]])
* 8× First Team [[All-Pro]] ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]]–[[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1988 All-Pro Team|1988]], [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* 2× Second Team All-Pro ([[1987 All-Pro Team|1987]], [[1990 All-Pro Team|1990]])
* 6× [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|NEA]] First Team All-Pro ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]]–[[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]])
* 2× [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|NEA]] Second Team All-Pro ([[1988 All-Pro Team|1988]], [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* 6× [[The Sporting News|''Sporting News'']] All-Pro Team ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]], [[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]]–[[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1988 All-Pro Team|1988]])
* 8× [[Pro Football Weekly|PFW]] All-Pro Team ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]]–[[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]], [[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]]–[[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* 9× [[United Press International|UPI]] All-NFC Team (1981–1986, 1988–1990)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Taylor Pro Football Stats, Position, College, Draft |url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/t/tayl08200.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=profootballarchives.com}}</ref>
* 8× [[Pro Football Writers Association|PFWA]] All-NFL Team ([[1981 All-Pro Team|1981]]–[[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1988 All-Pro Team|1988]], [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1981|1981]])
* [[List of National Football League season sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1986)
* 4× [[List of NFL annual forced fumbles leaders|NFL forced fumbles leader]] (1982, 1984, 1985, 1988){{efn|Co-led the league in 1982 with [[Maurice Harvey]], [[Greg Brown (defensive lineman)|Greg Brown]], and [[Manu Tuiasosopo]]; Co-led with [[Richard Dent]] in 1985.}}<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=V_kEkivKQ2I |title=Lawrence Taylor Highlights: A compilation of every forced fumble he caused throughout his career. |date=2014-04-26 |last=john smith |access-date=2025-04-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* NFL [[Glossary of American football terms#approximate value|approximate value]] leader (1985)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Approximate Value Year-by-Year Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_year_by_year.htm |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[NFL 1980s All-Decade Team]] (unanimous selection)
* [[NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]] (unanimous selection)
* [[New York Giants#Ring of Honor|New York Giants Ring of Honor]]
* [[New York Giants#Top 100 greatest Giants of all-time|The Greatest New York Giant of All Time]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Giants Top 100 Players {{!}} New York Giants - Giants.com |url=https://www.giants.com/100/top100players |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.giants.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[New York Giants#Retired numbers|New York Giants No. 56]] retired
* [[National Football League|NFL]] record for [[Quarterback sack|sacks]] in a single season by a [[linebacker]] with 20.5 (1986)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Bryn |title=Where Have You Gone, Lawrence Taylor? |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/162331-where-have-you-gone-lawrence-taylor |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}</ref>
* NFL "unofficial" record for career forced [[Fumble|fumbles]] with 56<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2024 |title=UNC football legend Lawrence Taylor reacts to the hiring of Bill Belichick |url=https://keepingitheel.com/unc-football-legend-lawrence-taylor-reacts-to-the-hiring-of-bill-belichick |access-date=September 29, 2025 |website=Keeping It Heel |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=V_kEkivKQ2I |title=Lawrence Taylor Highlights: A compilation of every forced fumble he caused throughout his career. |date=2014-04-26 |last=john smith |access-date=2025-04-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

'''College'''
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] champion ([[1977 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|1977]], [[1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|1980]])
* [[1977 Liberty Bowl|1977 Liberty Bowl champion]]
* [[1979 Gator Bowl|1979 Gator Bowl champion]]
* [[1980 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl|1980 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion]]
* 1981 [[East–West Shrine Bowl|East–West Shrine Bowl champion]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Rosters |url=https://shrinebowl.com/past-rosters/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=East West Shrine Bowl |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1980)
* [[Unanimous All-American]] ([[1980 College Football All-America Team#Linebackers|1980]])
** [[American Football Coaches Association|AFCA]] All-American
** [[Associated Press|AP]] First Team All-American
** [[Football Writers Association of America|FWAA]] All-American
** [[United Press International|UPI]] First Team All-American
** [[Newspaper Enterprise Association|NEA]] Second Team All-American
** [[The Sporting News|''Sporting News'']] All-American
* First Team All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] ([[1980 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1980]])
* [[North Carolina Tar Heels|UNC]] Patterson Medal (1981)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Taylor (1981) - Patterson Medal Winners |url=https://goheels.com/honors/patterson-medal-winners/lawrence-taylor/80 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=University of North Carolina Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* [[East–West Shrine Bowl#All-Century Team|East–West Shrine Bowl All-Century Team]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=EAST-WEST SHRINE BOWL ANNOUNCES ALL-CENTURY TEAM; UNVEILS EXHIBIT AT COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME |url=https://shrinebowl.com/news/east-west-shrine-bowl-announces-all-century-team-unveils-exhibit-at-college-football-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=East West Shrine Bowl |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[ACC 50th Anniversary men's football team|ACC 50th Anniversary Team]]
* [[AP All-Time All-America college football team]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=Deion Sanders, Tim Tebow headline AP All-Time All-America team, honoring 100 years of college football greats |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/deion-sanders-tim-tebow-headline-ap-all-time-all-america-team-honoring-100-years-of-college-football-greats/ |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Football Writers Association of America#1969–1994 All-America Team|FWAA 1969–1994 All-America Team]]
* [[North Carolina Tar Heels football#Honored jerseys|North Carolina Tar Heels Jersey No. 98]] honored
* [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|North Carolina]] record for sacks in a single season with 16 (1980)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-24 |title=No. 7: Lawrence Taylor |url=https://northcarolina.rivals.com/news/no-7-lawrence-taylor-1 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=northcarolina.rivals.com |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2003, Taylor was ranked #7 on the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]'s list of Top 10 Male Athletes of All Time<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-13 |title=Three Terrapins Chosen To ACC's All-Time Top 10 |url=https://umterps.com/news/2003/3/13/207265993 |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=University of Maryland Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

'''Halls of Fame'''
* [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] – Class of 1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence Taylor {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/lawrence-taylor/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum|Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]] – Class of 2003<ref>{{Cite web |last=ccmadmin |date=2017-08-25 |title=Lawrence Taylor {{!}} Virginia Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://vasportshof.com/inductee/lawrence-taylor/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''Media'''
* [[ESPN]] American Athlete of the Year (1986)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-16 |title=The Best American Athlete Championship Belt |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/17303175/best-american-athlete-championship-belt-best-athlete-sports-history-michael-jordan-michael-phelps-babe-ruth-tiger-woods-united-states |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
* 6× [[ESPN]] NFL [[Pass rush|Pass Rusher]] of the Year ([[1981 NFL season|1981]]–[[1986 NFL season|1986]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=LT, J.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and ???: Barnwell awards the champ belt for the best pass-rushers of the past 42 seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38445386/best-nfl-pass-rushers-year-barnwell-picks-championship-belt-winners-bosa-watt-donald-strahan-taylor |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[WrestleMania XI]] Main Event Winner (1995)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTuFC5VdZNM |title=FULL MATCH: Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: WrestleMania XI |date=2025-04-13 |last=WWE Vault |access-date=2025-04-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
* Ranked #5 on the [[Associated Press]]' list of Greatest Football Players of the 20th Century (1999)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Taylor Among Top 10 Football Players Of The Century |url=https://goheels.com/news/1999/12/10/205492229 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=University of North Carolina Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* Ranked #40 on [[SportsCentury#SportsCentury: Top 50 American Athletes of the 20th Century (Original series)|SportsCentury: Top 50 North American Athletes of the 20th Century]] (1999)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: Taylor ranked 40th-best athlete |url=https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00016489.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.espn.com}}</ref>
* Ranked #3 on [[The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players]] (2010)
* Ranked #5 on the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' list of Top 50 NFL Players of All Time (2014)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Gary |date=2014-12-03 |title=NFL Top 50: Jim Brown is best player in league history, edges Giants' Lawrence Taylor in Daily News' rankings (Nos. 1-10) |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/12/03/nfl-top-50-jim-brown-is-best-player-in-league-history-edges-giants-lawrence-taylor-in-daily-news-rankings-nos-1-10/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* 2× [[National Football League|NFL]].com's Greatest Defensive Player of All Time (2016, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 10 defensive players ever |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/top-10-defensive-players-ever-0ap3000000648967 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top three NFL defensive players of all time? Aaron Donald, Lawrence Taylor among answers |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/top-three-nfl-defensive-players-of-all-time-aaron-donald-lawrence-taylor-among-a |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[ESPN]] First Team All-Time [[All-America|All-American]] (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2019 |title=The All-Time All-America team for college football's 150th anniversary |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28356861/the-all-all-america-team-college-football-150th-anniversary |access-date=November 23, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[ESPN]] All-Time All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] Team (2019)<ref name=":0" />
* Ranked #3 on ''[[USA Today Sports|USA Today's]]'' list of the 100 Greatest NFL Players of All Time (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl-100/2019/10/01/nfl-100-best-players-all-time/3785514002/ |access-date=September 29, 2025 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Ranked #42 on the list of [[ESPN]]'s Top 150 Greatest [[College football|College Football]] Players of All Time (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three Placed On CFB150 All-Time Greatest Players List |url=https://goheels.com/news/2020/1/9/football-three-placed-on-cfb150-all-time-greatest-players-list |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=University of North Carolina Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
* Ranked #4 on ''[[The Athletic]]'''s list of Top 100 NFL Players of All Time (2021)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duggan |first=Dan |date=2024-07-18 |title=NFL 100: At No. 4, Lawrence Taylor, the brash, lethal force and destroyer of opposing game plans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2801975/2021/09/05/nfl-100-at-no-4-lawrence-taylor-brash-lethal-force-destroyer-of-opposing-game-plans/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* [[ESPN]]'s Greatest NFL [[Edge rusher|Edge Rusher]] of All Time (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=The greatest NFL defenders ever: We picked the GOAT at each position, from LT to Prime Time |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34303384/greatest-nfl-players-ever-every-defensive-special-teams-position-picking-goat-edge-rusher-linebacker-cornerback-kicker |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
* ''The 33rd Team''<nowiki/>'s NFL All-Time Defensive Front 7 Team (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Giants Now: Lawrence Taylor named to The 33rd Team's best all-time defensive front 7 |url=https://www.giants.com/news/lawrence-taylor-best-all-time-front-7-reggie-white-joe-greene-the-33rd-team |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.giants.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [https://haroldpumpfoundation.com/ Harold & Carole Pump Foundation] – Lifetime Achievement Award (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees |url=https://haroldpumpfoundation.com/index.php/events/lifetime-achievement-award-honorees |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Harold & Carole Pump Foundation |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[History of the New York Giants (1979–1993)]]
*[[List of New York Giants players]]
*[[List of NFL career sacks leaders]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Notes list}}
===References===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin|colwidth=50em}}
*Danyluk, Tom. ''Super '70s'', Chicago: Mad Uke Publishing. 2005 {{ISBN|0-9770383-0-0}}
*Eskenazi, Gerald. ''A Sports-Writer's Life: From the Desk of a New York Times Reporter'', Columbia: [[University of Missouri Press]]. 2004 {{ISBN|0-8262-1510-6}}
*Frostino, Nino. ''Right on the Numbers'', British Columbia: [[Trafford Publishing]]. 2004 {{ISBN|1-4120-3305-5}}
*Gutman, Bill. ''Parcells: A Biography'', New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. 2001 {{ISBN|0-7867-0934-0}}
*Harris, Othello, Nolte, Claire Elaine, and Kirsch, George B. ''Encyclopedia of Ethnicity and Sports in the United States'', Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2000 {{ISBN|0-313-29911-0}}
*Lupica, Mike. ''LT'', ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'', New York Media, LLC December 24–31, 1990 issue, ISSN 0028-7369 ([https://books.google.com/books?id=8OcgyAbJx4QC&dq=%22Lawrence+Taylor+%22&pg=PA82 available online])
*Montana, Joe, and Weiner, Richard. ''Joe Montana's Art and Magic of Quarterbacking: The Secrets of the Game from One of the All-Time Best'', Ontario: Owl Books, 1998 {{ISBN|0-8050-4278-4}}
*Neft, David S., Cohen, Richard M., and Korch, Rick. ''The Complete History of Professional Football from 1892 to the Present.'' New York: St. Martin's Press. 1994 {{ISBN|0-312-11435-4}}
*Pervin, Lawrence A. ''Football's New York Giants: A History.'' McFarland 2009 {{ISBN|0-7864-4268-9}}
*Powell, Adam. ''University of North Carolina Football'', South Carolina: [[Arcadia Publishing]]. 2006 {{ISBN|0-7385-4288-1}}
*Russo, Christopher, & Allen, St. John. ''The Mad Dog Hall of Fame: The Ultimate Top-Ten Rankings of the Best in Sports.'' Broadway 2007 {{ISBN|0-7679-2372-3}}
*Schwartz, Paul. ''Tales from the New York Giants Sideline'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 2004 {{ISBN|1-58261-758-9}}
*Shampoe, Clay. ''The Virginia Sports Hall Of Fame: Honoring Champions Of The Commonwealth'', South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. 2005 {{ISBN|0-7385-1776-3}}
*Rand, Jonathan. ''Riddell Presents the Gridiron's Greatest Linebackers'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 2003 {{ISBN|1-58261-625-6}}
*Smith, Ron and Moritz, Carl. ''The Sporting News Selects Football's 100 Greatest Players: A Celebration of the 20th Century's Best'', Missouri: Sporting News Publishing Co. 1999 {{ISBN|0-89204-624-4}}
*Sprechman, Jordan and Shannon, Bill. ''This Day in New York Sports'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1998 {{ISBN|1-57167-254-0}}
*Taylor, Lawrence and Falkner, David. ''LT: Living on the Edge'' New York: [[Random House]]. 1987 {{ISBN|0-8129-1703-0}}
*Taylor, Lawrence and Serby, Steve. ''LT: Over the Edge Tackling Quarterbacks, Drugs, and a World Beyond Football.'' New York: [[HarperCollins]]. 2003 {{ISBN|0-06-018551-1}}
*Taylor, Lawrence. ''Taylor (Icons of the NFL).'' New York: Rugged Land. 2006 {{ISBN|1-59071-082-7}}
*Walsh, Chris. ''New York Giants Football: Guide and Record Book.'' Illinois: Triumph Books 2009 {{ISBN|1-60078-189-6}}
*Ziegel, Vic. ''Giants in the Earth.'' New York Media, LLC Vol. 16, No. 40 October 10, 1983 ISSN 0028-7369 ([https://books.google.com/books?id=J9gBAAAAMBAJ available online])
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q963129|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{official website}}
* {{ProFootballHOF|212}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0852753|name=Lawrence Taylor}}
*{{professional wrestling profiles}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Lawrence}}
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