Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959, in Williamsburg, Virginia) is a retired Hall of Fame American Football linebacker for the New York Giants NFL franchise. He was also known by the nickname (his initials), "L.T."

Taylor played college football for the University of North Carolina. In 1981, Taylor was drafted by the Giants. He was named 1981's The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He produced double-digit sacks seasons consecutively from the 1986 through 1990. Taylor won the 1986 NFL Most Valuable Player. He helped led the Giants to Super Bowl XXI and XXV victories. Taylor retired in 1993 with a career total of 132 1/2 sacks. In 1999, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Hame.

He is perhaps best known for breaking Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann's leg during a 1985 Monday Night Football game, an injury that ended Theismann's career.

Despite his success on the football field, his personal life has been marred by drug usage. In a November 2003 interview with the TV news magazine 60 Minutes, Taylor claimed that he hired prostitutes to opponents' hotel rooms the night before a game and that he spent thousands of dollars a day on narcotics.

As of 2004, Taylor has been trying to start a career in acting. He appeared in the Oliver Stone movie, Any Given Sunday. Taylor also aided his voice to the controversial video game, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. He also was a head coach in the 2004 Lingerie Bowl.

External Links and Reference

• CBS News' L.T. Over The Edge