Lawrence Taylor – Where are they now?

In our series “Where are they now?” We’ll focus on # 56 Lawrence Taylor, arguably the best linebacker to ever play in the NFL. Many consider him the best defensive player in the history of the game, others even mention his name with the best players regardless of position.

LT revolutionized linebacker in the early 1980s with his speed, strength and intelligence. He made it a common practice to hit the ball in order to generate turnovers by rival players who feared him. It not only changed the way defense was played, but also the way offenses would approach playing it. They had to account for number 56 and adjust their game plans and lineups.

LT played his college ball at the University of North Carolina, where he was an All American, was selected by the NY Giants as the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft. His years with New York were full of success both to individual level as part of great Giants teams that won Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV under his leadership. He was named NFL MVP in 1986 after recording 20.5 sacks. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year three times.

His life on and off the field is full of achievement but also controversial. Lawrence has had a highly publicized and talked-about topic on addiction to narcotics, specifically cocaine. His battle has been well documented, but this has in no way affected or tarnished his place in NFL history, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. A beloved player during and after his career, Taylor has become moved from the field to the big screen starring feature films and television shows.

He was a huge hit on Dancing with the Stars alongside his beautiful dance partner Edyta Sliwinska, unfortunately LT was eliminated in week seven. When it comes to being in front of the camera, Lawrence has appeared in such films as “Any given Sunday,” “Shaft,” and “The Waterboy.” Television appearances include an ad on “The Sopranos” where he played himself and has also worked as a commentator for TNT Sunday Night Football, which never took off. Taylor also appeared at Wrestle Mania, where he wrestled and defeated Bam Bam Bigalow and hosted a show called “Toughman” on FX. You are in the process of advancing your acting career and have a few undisclosed projects on a big or small screen near you.

After his playing career, LT founded a company called All-Pro Products that immediately became profitable after going public, the stock tripling in the first month. The initial value was in the millions, but the stock plummeted and LT was later found to have been defrauded by Hanover Sterling & Company, a penny-stock company that shorted the stock and led to the company’s demise.

Lawrence Taylor has lived a wild life during and after his NFL career, admitting to having affairs with prostitutes and even admitting to sending prostitutes to rival players during his career to tire them out during the game over the next few days. These days, it seems like this great former NFL star has taken it down a bit and has successfully overcome her addiction to cocaine. He has been clean since 1998 and has remarried for the third time. When you’re not working, you can find number 56 on the golf course perfecting your favorite hobby.

Many players have been compared to LT, Ray Lewis for example plays with the same intensity, others like Ladainian Tomlinson carry his initials and nickname, but there will never be another Lawrence Taylor!