Gold Jacket Spotlight: Lawrence Taylor created havoc

LAWRENCE TAYLOR'S ability to become, as sports radio’s Norm Hitzges described "a havoc creator," might have developed in his youth.

In the documentary "LT: The Life and Times," his mother, Iris, declared, "There was never a dull moment around him." 

"LT" impacted the game to a degree unseen prior to this arrival to the National Football League as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants in 1981, and Lawrence's influence on the game is the focus of this week's Gold Jacket Spotlight.

Giants players and coaches witnessed Lawrence's potential during his initial practice with the team.

In a 2021 interview, Bill Belichick, Lawrence’s linebacker coach in 1981, recalled, "He dominated from the first day of practice."

Belichick remarked in the "LT" documentary, "We had talked about, in the first preseason game, not letting him start. Watch the first series, and all that. But, really, after one scrimmage I remember Coach (Ray) Perkins saying, 'We’ve got to get him in there. Forget that. He is starting from Day 1.' "

During the NFL Films production, "Top 10 Rookie Seasons of All Time," Giants defensive end Gary Jeter proclaimed, "I went to the movies and saw 'Superman I' and I went to the movies and saw 'Superman II.' But then, I said to myself, 'Now I’m playing with Superman III,' and that’s Lawrence Taylor."

Prior to LT's addition to the Giants' roster, the organization had not qualified for the playoffs for nearly three decades (since 1963), and his arrival began the organization's turnaround. The team posted a 9-7 record and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 1981 postseason. 

"He (Lawrence) was certainly a key piece to starting the rebuilding process," Hall of Fame coach BILL PARCELLS told interviewer Brandon Steiner.

That rebuilding process resulted in a 10-season stretch in which the Giants appeared in the playoffs six times and won two Super Bowls.

"He turned that franchise around," Newsday’s Tom Rock wrote. "He just energized the city."

LT was recognized after his first season as the AP’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year, the first rookie to receive that award. 

"He’s changed the game of football because he is just so dominating," said Hall of Fame coach JOE GIBBS of NFC East Division rival Washington. "You get a back blocking Lawrence Taylor, you lose."

Sharing Gibbs' observation, opposing coaches and players modified game plans in an effort to stop LT, whom NFL films acknowledged, ".. .ushered in the era of the blitzing linebacker."

While describing the challenge of playing against Lawrence in the LT documentary, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski said, "When you came out of the huddle, you were looking for No. 56. The game evolved around where Lawrence Taylor lined up."

Jim Hart, who played 18 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and an additional season in Washington, believed, "He can rush like a defensive lineman, and he can also run downfield 20 yards to break up a pass to your wide receiver. Most linebackers are good at one thing. He can do everything. He is someone to behold."

Phil Simms, LT's teammate in the Giants' Super Bowl XXI and XXV victories, noted, "There’s very few innovations that come around the NFL. The '46 Defense,' Bill Walsh's offense and Lawrence Taylor rushing the passer from the linebacker position."

LT's "innovation" accounted for 142 careers sacks, according to Pro Football Reference, in his 13 seasons.

In 1986, Lawrence accumulated 20.5 sacks and 105 total tackles. Those efforts resulted in him earning the NFL’s MVP award, an honor a defensive player had not earned since Hall of Famer ALAN PAGE in 1971. No other defensive player has won the award. 

Lawrence was named All-Pro for nine consecutive seasons, selected to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1986.

Indeed, never a dull moment.