New York City – The history of the New York Giants nearly took a different path when one of their most legendary players, Lawrence Taylor, disclosed that he almost walked away from football during high school. In a recent discussion on the show “Maintaining with Tyrus,” Taylor shared, “I thought it was too much.” He recounted a moment during his junior year when he almost quit the sport entirely.
Thankfully for football fans, Taylor’s father stepped in, stating, “You’re not going to quit.” This pivotal moment motivated Taylor to push through, and with his father’s encouraging words, he learned to compete fiercely. He recalled, “Hey, you got to be better than the next man just to be equals.” This attitude set the stage for Taylor to become one of the most dominant forces in the NFL.
Over a stellar 13-year career, all spent with the Giants, Taylor established a name for himself as one of the best defensive players ever. He earned the title of First Team All-Pro eight times and made history in 1986 by winning the MVP award, a feat that still stands as the last time a defensive player received that honor.
During his tenure, Taylor was instrumental in leading the Giants to two Super Bowl victories. His influence on the field was respected by many, including the legendary Bill Belichick, who served as the Giants’ defensive coordinator at the time. Belichick praised Taylor on the “Manningcast” during a recent Giants-Steelers game, calling him “the greatest defensive player in NFL history.” He added that when Taylor was on the field, the game tilted in the Giants’ favor.
Despite a complicated personal life that included substance abuse issues, Taylor received his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999, solidifying his legacy in NFL history.
