Lawrence Taylor is a legendary former NFL Linebacker who played his entire career with the New York Giants. He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of American football, and has been ranked as the greatest defensive player in league history by former players, coaches, media members, and news outlets such as the NFL Network and Sporting News.
After playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina, Taylor was drafted 2nd overall in the 1981 NFL Draft by the Giants. Taylor won several defensive awards after his rookie season, and throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Taylor was a disruptive force at outside linebacker, and is credited with changing the pass rushing schemes, offensive line play, and offensive formations used in the NFL.
Taylor produced double-digit 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 and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after the 1986 season. He is one of two defensive players in NFL history to win the MVP award and no defensive player has won it since him. Taylor won two Super Bowl titles as a member of a Giants defense nicknamed, "The Big Blue Wrecking Crew," during the mid 1980s.
