I’m only 41 and i was blessed and cursed to see him play the end of his career and i don’t blame him. His last year he was still a game changer and we barely beat them the final week of the season!!! He’s got all Cowboy fans respect in promise lol let’s go cowboys 🎉 🫡
For a defensive player to lead your team a Super Bowl, win DPOY, and Unanimous MVP in one season is nuts. Dude was literally at bare minimum a sack per game plus just game wrecking plays every damn game
This guy exceeded all the superlatives. As an Eagles fan. I got to see him twice a year. He was a nightmare and wrecked many Sundays for me. Ridiculous‼️
Belichick is sort of the gold standard when it comes to that opinion, having shut down HIGH powered offenses COUNTLESS times with his defensive knowledge. His quote about LT on the 30 for 30 documentary about LT was "I can't think of anyone I would put above him". Indeed.
For Linebackers only Dick Butkus could compare in any way. Mabe Ray Lewis is in his zip code , but that's debatable. For defensive players in general, there is one other who is just as good: ALAN PAGE of the Minnesota Vikings. Think about this: in 1971 He won NFL MVP as a defensive tackle. Do you know how insane you got to be to do that?
During the beginning of an offensive play, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski immediately called timeout. Jaworski walked to the Eagles sideline. Head coach Dick Vermeil asked Jaworski why did you call timeout? Jaworski replied, "I couldn't find 56".
Why you gotta be a Dallas fan from NY? My best friend is too! F'n guy! Just tell me why! It's just wrong! Plus he is die hard Mets, Islanders, Knicks fan. WTF!
That must've been a scary time for every quarterback. You make it 4 downs without seeing him or hearing his footsteps and you go back to the sideline happy. Then your defense gets an interception to send you right back on the field, and you're like, "Why? Why did you do this to me?"
Yeah, as said in the video, he ended Joe Theisman's playing days - and he damn near ended Joe Montana's career, too. OMG, was he a terror on the field. Imagine what L.T.'s career numbers would have been had he not developed a real fondness for nose candy! Ah, but such was the 1980s...
@@peterfrank1572 It was def rougher for QB's back then, was much more of a running game. Personally would love to see Dan Marino with today's passing rules. Marino would light it up in today's rules more than he did back then.
The one thing I wish you covered was in 90 he basically won the NFC championship forcing and recovering a fumble against the 49ers who were going for a 3-peat and had the ball with time running out. They were in FG position with a little over 2 mins left. He stripped the ball from Rodger Craig and gave the Giants a chance. This was his last great moment. Pretty big moment to miss.
With Ray Lewis, quarterbacks would sit up on Saturday nights worrying about he was going to beat them. With LT, quarterbacks stayed up on Saturday nights wondering if he was going to kill them.
@@shipofthesun Are you referring to LT breaking Theismann's leg? If you are, then that wasn't a hard hit. It was a drag down tackle, and Theismann's leg simply got caught under LT's leg... If you want to see a hard-hitting player, watch Jack Tatum...
As a Raider fan growing up in New Jersey, I watched every game he played. Now I never watched Jim Brown in real time, but I watched Lawrence Taylor and in my 56 years on this earth I have never seen a better football player.
Some people say the best defensive player of all time is Ray Lewis, or Reggie White, or Bruce Smith, but I've seen them all play and LT is the best by far. No one dominated like him
Some people say, yet the singleback offense was created to try to stop LT. Still didn't stop him till he slowed down! Edge rushers are a thing to this day because of LT. Yet they don't realize, LT did his thing on the run too! No one ran at him, unfortunately they ran into Carl Banks instead, or maybe LT from behind. No one caught rb's from behind on sweeps like LT. LT was also as good as a linebacker could be in pass defense too. He excelled at all 3 phases. Everyone wants to compare all edge rushers to LT, like Kalil Mack or Micah Parsons, Derek Thomas... and so one, yet they just don't have that same impact because they lack in run or pass coverage. LT was good at all 3 phases!
Lawrence Taylor Reggie White Ray Lewis I'd be happy to have any one of them. All 3 of those guys change the level of ALL the defensive players. Those 3 massively disrupt things & make everyone else's job easier.
As a Tar-Heels fan the Lawrence Taylor was a man amongs boys back in his Prime without a doubt he was a BadAss impactful player a 1st Round 2nd overall pick by the Giants in 1981 NFL Draft the former University of the North Carolina Tar-Heels Alumni never ever disappoint he's a 3X Defensive player of the year 1986 NFL MVP and a 2X Super Bowl Champion now a Pro Football Hall Of Famer because there's only one LT Defensive wise yes! 0:14
69 year old Giants fan. Been watching since 1963 NFL title game. LT is the greatest Giant ever. No ome changed NFL football more than Lawerence Taylor. Alot of NFL players & coaches lost aloy of sleep over him.
People that didn't get to see him I can't really explain how good this guy was. And I hated the Giants and I hated LT. But this guy was everywhere all over the field. The Giants had some great defenses particular there linebackers. LT is the most destructive force on defense I've ever seen.
@@CorePathway no, I'm sorry. Can't mention Gronk and LT in the same sentence. You have other tight ends comparable to Gronk including Hernandez before his legal troubles. Not so with LT.
@@MrMsmoove the difference is you can run behind Gronk. Not so much Hernandez or Kelce or any other elite pass catching TE. No one else was as fast and strong as LT No one else was as fast and strong as Gronk.
@user-sg8kq7ii3y I'm from New England and no Tippet wasn't. He was a great player but not near the destructive force Taylor was. And Tippet isn't above Reggie White or Bruce Smith on the all time best defensive player list.
I'm an old skool 70s football fan, when it Pat and John called the game. Taylor was always a beast. Ferocious, relentless, never dirty. But when dude played that game with just one arm, he became immortal. Seeing the look on his face on the sidelines, I could feel his pain from my TV. New Sub.
I’m a 49ers fan of 40+ years for me Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player I’ve ever seen. Taylor was a freak of nature, a true one off, he had it all, size, strength & devastating speed. He richly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.
Those 80’s teams were like the clash of the Titans! Amazing games between The Giants, 49er’s, Bears, Redskins, Eagles, Raiders that were true battles that seem to always go blow for blow. Great players all. As a Giant fan I still think Montana was the greatest QB I’ve ever seen.
I was a small kid when LT came to the NFL. My teams were the Cowboys and Broncos. But, LT was my hero. Watching him on Sunday and what he could do on the field was mind-blowing.
Taylor used to come in where my dad worked and played golf seen him a bunch of times always a nice guy..I will never forget when Taylor was taking a shower in the locker room and a guy that worked there stole his Super Bowl ring…he was very upset I will never forget that day I thought he was gonna hurt the guy he was actually working there on work release..
@@KevinjHiggs That is such a weird thing to say considering you don't know me at all. We are perfect strangers and you would just imagine something like out of your head and believe that its true because your brain came up with it? Please get the help that you clearly need....
@@mitchbrown6652 it's because you felt the need to shoot down this anonymous guy's quote for some reason. I think the guy who called you out had plenty to go on actually. You got called out on your troll deuschbaggary. Deal with it.
I can still remember the in that draft. I am so glad that I had the privilege to see his whole career from start to finish in person. It truly was awesome!
LT was the man. To play through what he did. To be drugged up out of his mind and still killing people. Insane. As a giants fan i wish i was born earlier to have seen him live.
If there is one reason to argue for Taylor being the GOAT among defensive players, I want you to name me another player whose play forever changed offensive formations. In the past, team used to run up to 3 men in the backfield, since rushing took priority and the ball carrier needed someone in the backfield to open lanes or block incoming defenders. Taylor's explosiveness and raw athletic abilities put a damper on this option, as he was fast enough to get to the ball carrier before defenders have a chance to catch him. Whether if it was a quarterback or running back, those loss of yards can matter in the long run. Taylor's impact on edge rushing is the reason why teams no longer run 3 back formations in the pros. Even for running plays, at most you have 2 guys, though the fullback position is on its way out too, so typically, you only need 1 man in the backfield. For countering bigger and faster edge rushers, tight ends gained prominence as their size and ability to catch gives offenses more versatile positions. In addition, as tight ends are found near the line of scrimmage as opposed to the backfield, they are in a better position to support linemen for blocking edge rushers. Offensive formations changed specifically to counter one guy, and the successors that would follow in his footsteps. Once again, I dare you to name me one person who has impacted the game in a similar manner.
@ToddEWalnuts Reggie White was a beast but didn't impact the game in as many ways as LT. Deion Sanders might be the only other defensive player to be able to claim GOAT status
He changed the game in more ways than that -- that hands over your head tackle in order to force a fumble was a technique first used by Lawrence Taylor.
And the offensive formation most credited with that was the one-back offense Joe Gibbs came up with when he was in San Diego in 1980, the year before Lawrence Taylor came into the NFL (and the Chargers demolished the Giants when they played that season). He actually came up with it to make use of Kellen Winslow's unusual talents, while at the same time, having another tight end on the field, but that offensive scheme, keeping a second tight end on the field, was more effective than most at keeping players like Taylor, Hugh Green, and other similar-style players that could rush from the outside at bay as best as possible.
I grew up watching LT. The dude was all over the place. Even if he wasnt recording a sack, he was so disruptive that he gave room for some of the other talented Giants defenders to make plays. To this day he’s the most dominant player I’ve ever seen.
That 1986 season, he just tore up defenses. The game that won him the NFL MVP was that second Redskins game at RFK. Go watch it, how he ended up in the backfield with all those sacks and a forced fumble. The Giants put everything together that season.
I'll never forget him actually crying in sorrow after the Joe Theismann sack oh the humanity shown , he was alot of things people dislike but at the end of the day he was a fellow human being that was the greatest individual defensive player ever
Football will stop being played and LT will be the greatest defensive player ever not only because of his greatness, but because defenders are simply not allowed to play like him anymore. LT would be flagged for a hundred yards a game today.
Actually, the bigger issue is that players aren't allowed to be literal cocaine fiends anymore. LT isn't LT without cocaine. Once he had to stop using after '88, he was still pretty good, but the sheer dominance was gone.
@@maximos905 LT immediately ceased being the best pass rusher in the league after he stopped using in '89. I literally just said that. "Your point is moot" - guy completely ignoring the point
What they don't mention about the Joe Theisman sack is that Lawrence Taylor was severely claustrophobic, and immediately after getting pulled out of the pileup, he ran as fast as he could away from the play, because he couldn't get the image of Theisman, injured and at the bottom of the pile, out of his head.
Can anyone even imagine just how good he could have been without drugs......it's a scary thought because he was simply SO EFFING DOMINANT AS AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER!
The best Lawrence Taylor story I ever heard was I was talking to a wide receiver that was on special teams at North Carolina he said that he got a really good shot on LT. He said LT was none too happy and took exception to this he said that LT hit him so hard he went back to the Huddle scratching his head through his helmet.
Thing with LT is: it's not just the great stats and accolades; he wasn't just a great Linebacker and Passrusher; he was great at everything he did on the football field. He was all over the field. He would line up on one side and they'd try to run away from him and all of a sudden he was on the other side running down the RB. Just nuts. Back then, starters were still used on special teams and he was a great gunner... a gunner!!! Imagine LT running at you fielding a punt. I would've shat my pants. He returned punts, too. Who would voluntarily want to tackle him? His athleticism was just off the charts.
@@fluoriteheals i agree with you im just saying i had the game and Bo was unstoppable. He was so good that they only let you ise him once per possesion or every 4 downs cant remember exactly
The only man i ever saw walk up to the entire 1985 bears defense while they were on the sidelines and challenged them right there yelling “BRING IT BRING IT!!!!” Nobody on that sideline flinched.
Crazy to learn that Bill Belichick directly coached Lawrence Taylor for an entire decade. He literally had a front-row seat to the rise of him becoming the greatest defensive player in NFL History
Dude once said he learned from Lawrence Taylor in the way he analyzed games. LT had a photographic memory that allowed him to instantly make adjustments on the field and off the field. It was his mind that allowed him to thrive for so long, long after his body had worn down.
LT had this radar, in knowing where the play would be going. He created fear in many offensive linemen, as he would make them look silly as they tried to block him. Man, was it fun just watching him go, he just wouldn't quit.
No one today will ever be as great as LT. I saw him play many times. Even attended the practices. You should see when parcells practiced goal line. I just stood there maybe 20 yards away and saw first hand the pure God given ability of LT. It was a child’s game to him. LT had a warrior motor that when needed to be fired up he threw it into high gear. To me it wasn’t the sacks it was his run defense,speed and ability to take correct angles to make great plays. Last thing one of my fondest memories was a late night at his bar in Paramus on route 17. Me and my buddies were at a table. LT walks by says what’s up fellas. We tell him you can’t leave till we all do a shot. With his big grin he agrees and we cheers to him the giants and our families. Hugs and high fives all around. Boy do I miss those days when the NFL was pure and not woke. Haven’t watched and NFL game in 5 years.
There's a clip somewhere that used to be played on NFL Films when I was a kid, it's of Taylor tackling someone by the jersey, with 2 fingers! He only had the jersey hooked on his finger and HE STILL tackled the guy.
LT is the greatest defensive player of all time, but Reggie White's 1987 season surpasses ALL defensive seasons. In a strike shortened season, he had 21 sacks in 12 games.
I wouldn't ever want to diminish the Minister of Defense, Reggie White was a force. But, there were some replacement players playing in many of these games if I am not mistaken?
Why don't you look up the 1971 season by Alan Page. He won the MVP that year. And if his sacks had been counted, he would have had over 20 in 14 games.
@@robertkelly6282 Sacks are overrated in my book. Interceptions are more important. Sacks stop one play.... interceptions stop one play and your team gets the the football.
Yeah but what makes LT the ultimate GOAT is that he could and did play at all three levels. He would stuff the run on one play, sack the QB on the next play, and then be 30 yards down field covering a receiver step for step. Those other guys were great....but they couldn't do what LT did .....
As an eagles fan, I still have nightmares. There is no other player on any team, at any position, that I have nightmares about. He'll beat your offense physically. And he'll do that while also outthinking them. Deadly combination. Best ever.
Been watching football since the 70’s….I’ve seen a lot of great players on both sides of the ball…he was so gud defensively that he completely changed offenses…not only the greatest defensive player EVER he’s Top 3 football players of ALL TIME!!!
I consider myself privileged to have watched him over his entire career. The NY Giants weren't consistently great offensively, but the greatest offenses in the NFL always feared them defensively. That says a lot about LT.
Technically yea, but that statement is a little misleading. Woodson played both sides of the ball in his Sophomore and Jr. heisman winning seasons, and returned punts scoring TDs from all 3 positions. A pure defensive player has never won the Heisman.
LT, Reggie White and Aaron Donald. 3 absolute greatest game wreckers to ever live. there was no scheme or blocking that stopped them. and LT did it at multiple levels which is wild
Donald didnt get to play long enough. Michael Strahan was better than Donald. J.J. Watt and Bruce Smith are about even with him. I cant put Donald over Ray Lewis just can't. Donald is top 20 for sure because there are just too many other amazing players in history.
LT is the GOAT hands down not only changing his position, he changed o-line and the game for a person who doesn't touch the ball all the time that is very impressive
Lawrence Taylor & Michael Jordan, the greatest Football Player & greatest Basketball Player both came through at the University of North Carolina is Crazy !
@jordyy_vxr8273 LT was on cocaine.. if you think that's performance enhancing you're an actual 🤪🔨 Donald.. if you can't take one look at him and tell he took roids.. welp, again see above.
Aaron was a monster and first ballot HOFer no doubt, but you can tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Aaron Donald, but not without a whole chapter only on LT.
A lot of guys are overrated. Not LT! LT and Brady were both so good, they tricked the NFL and it’s owners into thinking that Belichick was a genius coach and coordinator
Back in that time, linebackers didn't get that many sacks, outside pass rushers weren't a thing till he made it a thing. OLBs were for outside containment in the run game and containment for screen passes or safety outlet passes. His speed at his size changed the whole concept of what could be done at that position. He is the reason that teams look for outside pass rushers to this day.
You do know that teams threw the ball max 20 times a game? The league was run heavy until the 2010s. Back then team would attempt between 15-25 times a game compared to now on average it’s double that. Between 27 to 42 attempts a game and that’s average. While Mahomes is between 40 and 50. If LT Played in today’s game they would ban him because teams literally wouldn’t be able to do anything .
LT was my all time favorite player. The way I see the NFL, you have certain players in the absolute pantheon, and LT was one of them. The NFL isn't plagued with the stupid "goat" debates that the NBA has.
meh, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, Dick Butkus, Sean Taylor, and possibly Junior Seau are greater all time defenders. LT is certainly up there, but then again his legacy was tarnished with the admission of cocaine addiction, which explained his "maniac" playstyle.
Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player of all time and this is not even close. Football 🏈 fans who did not see him play have no idea how good he was at football 🏈.
@@MRHEEL-ys2rq Ray Lewis did not play in the say style nor manner as Lawrence Taylor. Taylor was a blindside pass rusher from the Linebacker position. Ray Lewis was an all purpose linebacking general who called out defensive coverages as he saw fit for the situation, whose tackles dwarfed LT. Lewis’s style of play was similar to Teddy Bruschi or Seth Joyner… Taylor was not that guy… Now, Derrick Thomas was absolutely in the same vain as Lawrence Taylor. The same can be said for Von Miller as well… Miller is the evolution of what Taylor started, and like Taylor, he also has TWO Super Bowl rings. One with the Broncos a defense he anchored, and the other with the Rams… So NO, I respectfully disagree. Ray Lewis owes little to Lawrence Taylor, and maybe more to Mike Singletary… 🤔
Years ago, I was friends with L.T. I was around the man when he was surrounded by good looking women. He was always extremely polite and non intrusive. He was always approachable, would talk to you about anything and just an over all great guy. On one occasion L.T. went kind of weird. Even though we haven't spoken in years, this is a private memory and I'll keep it to myself. Even so, L.T.'s weirdness did not freak me out because he's a fun loving character. It was nothing sexual or illegal. It was far from it. It was funny as hell but, like I said. I'll keep it private. L.T. is probably one of the greatest players in history. To be great is not only physical but mental. The man is incredibly intelligent. I just can't compare him to any other player. He's one of a kind great. He epitomizes the word "Great." Damn, L.T., we miss you.
LT is my goat overall, offense or defense. He has had a huge impact on both sides of the ball and is a game changer. That's goat status. No other player game out of the gate ready like LT (rookie season).
So bill belichick coached both goats on offense and defense but can’t get a positive wining record without them, and still people call him the goat coach? Sounds like a scam to me 😂
My father is a diehard cowboys fan. LT still lives rent free in his head. He still talks about him like he's suiting up Sunday 😂
😂😂😂😂
In other words, he has LT PTSD
@@4392amtrak 😂🤣 absolutely
@@4392amtrak PLTSD
I’m only 41 and i was blessed and cursed to see him play the end of his career and i don’t blame him. His last year he was still a game changer and we barely beat them the final week of the season!!! He’s got all Cowboy fans respect in promise lol let’s go cowboys 🎉 🫡
2 forced fumbles 7 tackles and 3 sacks with a torn pec is absolutely insane
Cocaines a Hella of a drug
@@bonesjackson81you spelled it wrong
@@bonesjackson81So is STUPIDITY...🤷🏾♂️
@@every1877 I T
@@every1877 I T
For a defensive player to lead your team a Super Bowl, win DPOY, and Unanimous MVP in one season is nuts. Dude was literally at bare minimum a sack per game plus just game wrecking plays every damn game
Plumber. NFL is for plumber.
@@milosjovicevic6083 Electrician. NFL is for electrician.
Carpenter.. NFL is for carpenter
"Coke is hell of a drug" Rick James 😂😂
@@anti-liberal7167came here for this 😂😂😂...tryna block a mf doped up😂😂😂
The greatest line in football history: “My life’s mission is to hit quarterbacks so hard, they blow snot bubbles.”-Lawrence Taylor.
Lol, thats funny as hell
That’s a flag now 🤦🏿♂️
@@OmarAbdullah-fu9wl Throw flags on the Giants retroactively for this
L c xxxxx̌ ❤❤❤❤❤@@chrisaulds3696
That and “Im gonna come after you like a bunch of crazed dogs!”.
Lawrence Taylor is responsible for some of the wildest stories in sports history, both on and off the field. He was like the James Brown of the NFL.
The guy was drunk and coked out of his mind during games 💀
I would argue James "Jim" Brown was the James Brown of the NFL.
That's actually a great comparison
@@ll4680sounds amazing
LT was more like the RICK James of football. 😂
This guy exceeded all the superlatives. As an Eagles fan. I got to see him twice a year. He was a nightmare and wrecked many Sundays for me. Ridiculous‼️
Hated watching the Giants try to tackle Cunningham though, dude was soaked in oil I say!
@@Efilnikufesin76 Carl Banks tackle attempt on Randall was insane. Banks was a stud and he had the perfect reaction after the play.
Stop it ya'll had Cunningham. Or are we gonna act like Cunningham didn't have our number?
Belichick is sort of the gold standard when it comes to that opinion, having shut down HIGH powered offenses COUNTLESS times with his defensive knowledge. His quote about LT on the 30 for 30 documentary about LT was "I can't think of anyone I would put above him". Indeed.
They helped make each other the gold standard
Belichick is the gold standard for getting away with cheating. Along with Brady.
Ed Reed is the only other defensive player that Coach Belichick raves about with equal respect and admiration
For Linebackers only Dick Butkus could compare in any way. Mabe Ray Lewis is in his zip code , but that's debatable.
For defensive players in general, there is one other who is just as good: ALAN PAGE of the Minnesota Vikings.
Think about this: in 1971 He won NFL MVP as a defensive tackle. Do you know how insane you got to be to do that?
During the beginning of an offensive play, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski immediately called timeout. Jaworski walked to the Eagles sideline. Head coach Dick Vermeil asked Jaworski why did you call timeout? Jaworski replied, "I couldn't find 56".
😂😂
jaworski was the worst starting qb in history
Is this true? 😂
@@Legend-tq4pn yes
@paultomanio539 maybe not the worst... jamarcus Russell played in the NFL
Was and still am a Cowboys fan growing up in NYC . I was so jealous that they had LT. Watching him every Sunday was a treat.
Why you gotta be a Dallas fan from NY? My best friend is too! F'n guy! Just tell me why! It's just wrong! Plus he is die hard Mets, Islanders, Knicks fan. WTF!
That must've been a scary time for every quarterback. You make it 4 downs without seeing him or hearing his footsteps and you go back to the sideline happy. Then your defense gets an interception to send you right back on the field, and you're like, "Why? Why did you do this to me?"
🤣😂🥲
Yeah, as said in the video, he ended Joe Theisman's playing days - and he damn near ended Joe Montana's career, too. OMG, was he a terror on the field.
Imagine what L.T.'s career numbers would have been had he not developed a real fondness for nose candy! Ah, but such was the 1980s...
And those were the days without all these protective rules for QB. If Tom Brady played during this era he would not be great.
@@peterfrank1572 It was def rougher for QB's back then, was much more of a running game. Personally would love to see Dan Marino with today's passing rules. Marino would light it up in today's rules more than he did back then.
Not to mention his shit talk game. He into their heads! 😂🎉❤
The one thing I wish you covered was in 90 he basically won the NFC championship forcing and recovering a fumble against the 49ers who were going for a 3-peat and had the ball with time running out. They were in FG position with a little over 2 mins left. He stripped the ball from Rodger Craig and gave the Giants a chance. This was his last great moment. Pretty big moment to miss.
Never knew that bro thanks for that knowledge.
Broke the Bay Area’s hearts. Still grumble about it.
Erik Howard stripped the ball, LT recovered. But yes, great moment. He was always in the right place at the right time when a big play was needed.
With Ray Lewis, quarterbacks would sit up on Saturday nights worrying about he was going to beat them. With LT, quarterbacks stayed up on Saturday nights wondering if he was going to kill them.
LT was never known as a hard hitter.
@@user-sg8kq7ii3y Tell that to Ron Jaworski, Joe Theismann, Joe Montana...
@@shipofthesun Are you referring to LT breaking Theismann's leg? If you are, then that wasn't a hard hit. It was a drag down tackle, and Theismann's leg simply got caught under LT's leg...
If you want to see a hard-hitting player, watch Jack Tatum...
@@user-sg8kq7ii3y Tatum was a hitter faxxxx
Born and raised in Baltimore. As great as Ray Lewis was, he's not in LT's class. In my lifetime, no one is in LT's class.
As a Raider fan growing up in New Jersey, I watched every game he played. Now I never watched Jim Brown in real time, but I watched Lawrence Taylor and in my 56 years on this earth I have never seen a better football player.
56
What about Bo Jackson?
@@chrisrobinson8339 That's also arguable. But LT, JB, and BJ is rarified air.
@@jessejordache1869 who's BJ?
@@chrisrobinson8339 Bo Jackson
Hell yeah the one and only Lawrence Taylor that I love watching him as my best defensive player of all time.❤❤❤
Some people say the best defensive player of all time is Ray Lewis, or Reggie White, or Bruce Smith, but I've seen them all play and LT is the best by far. No one dominated like him
Some people say, yet the singleback offense was created to try to stop LT. Still didn't stop him till he slowed down!
Edge rushers are a thing to this day because of LT. Yet they don't realize, LT did his thing on the run too! No one ran at him, unfortunately they ran into Carl Banks instead, or maybe LT from behind. No one caught rb's from behind on sweeps like LT.
LT was also as good as a linebacker could be in pass defense too. He excelled at all 3 phases. Everyone wants to compare all edge rushers to LT, like Kalil Mack or Micah Parsons, Derek Thomas... and so one, yet they just don't have that same impact because they lack in run or pass coverage. LT was good at all 3 phases!
I can honestly say, I've seen them all too. And I totally agree, LT was the Original Beast Mode
@@normangoffney643Hold my beer: Dick Butkus.
Lawrence Taylor
Reggie White
Ray Lewis
I'd be happy to have any one of them.
All 3 of those guys change the level of ALL the defensive players. Those 3 massively disrupt things & make everyone else's job easier.
Nobody puts Reggie or Ray ahead of LT Nobody everyone knows LT was the 🐐
As a Tar-Heels fan the Lawrence Taylor was a man amongs boys back in his Prime without a doubt he was a BadAss impactful player a 1st Round 2nd overall pick by the Giants in 1981 NFL Draft the former University of the North Carolina Tar-Heels Alumni never ever disappoint he's a 3X Defensive player of the year 1986 NFL MVP and a 2X Super Bowl Champion now a Pro Football Hall Of Famer because there's only one LT Defensive wise yes! 0:14
ABD brother. You know what that stands for.
The Saints made the worst mistake the worst decision ever passing up on LT.
Even if they take LT, I don't think he would prosper with the Saints. The Giants roster was a perfect fit
Saints also passed up on Mike Singletary
@@bonzobonanzaPlease tell me we didn't do that?!?!?!?!
@@AlonsoRulesWe did that too?!?!?!?! Thank you for ruining my day..
The Saints passing on LT ranks up there with the Trailblazers passing on Jordan.
69 year old Giants fan. Been watching since 1963 NFL title game. LT is the greatest Giant ever. No ome changed NFL football more than Lawerence Taylor. Alot of NFL players & coaches lost aloy of sleep over him.
People that didn't get to see him I can't really explain how good this guy was. And I hated the Giants and I hated LT. But this guy was everywhere all over the field. The Giants had some great defenses particular there linebackers. LT is the most destructive force on defense I've ever seen.
Peak LT is like Peak Gronk. But even better. Pure dominance, best ever.
@@CorePathway no, I'm sorry. Can't mention Gronk and LT in the same sentence. You have other tight ends comparable to Gronk including Hernandez before his legal troubles. Not so with LT.
@@MrMsmoove the difference is you can run behind Gronk. Not so much Hernandez or Kelce or any other elite pass catching TE.
No one else was as fast and strong as LT
No one else was as fast and strong as Gronk.
Andre Tippett was just as good as LT. He just played on a bad team.
@user-sg8kq7ii3y I'm from New England and no Tippet wasn't. He was a great player but not near the destructive force Taylor was. And Tippet isn't above Reggie White or Bruce Smith on the all time best defensive player list.
I'm an old skool 70s football fan, when it Pat and John called the game. Taylor was always a beast. Ferocious, relentless, never dirty. But when dude played that game with just one arm, he became immortal. Seeing the look on his face on the sidelines, I could feel his pain from my TV.
New Sub.
I’m a 49ers fan of 40+ years for me Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player I’ve ever seen. Taylor was a freak of nature, a true one off, he had it all, size, strength & devastating speed. He richly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.
Those 80’s teams were like the clash of the Titans! Amazing games between The Giants, 49er’s, Bears, Redskins, Eagles, Raiders that were true battles that seem to always go blow for blow. Great players all. As a Giant fan I still think Montana was the greatest QB I’ve ever seen.
UNC produced the GOAT in NBA and the NFL.
Facts
carolina pride
Lebron never went to UNC?
@@keenanrobinson6563 what number is lebron again?
@@keenanrobinson6563 LeFLOP is the GOAT in your little feeble mind.
Loved watching him play as a kid. What a legend.
I was a small kid when LT came to the NFL. My teams were the Cowboys and Broncos. But, LT was my hero. Watching him on Sunday and what he could do on the field was mind-blowing.
my goattt as a LB i love LT
Has anyone ever seen a Defensive player be remembered for leading their team to a Super Bowl ? Only other I can think of is kinda Ray Lewis
Richard Dent? but the bears offense was pretty damn good w McMahon so maybe not ... Good question
@@chizzyschwartz1528
WaLTer PayTon wuZda Offensive Leader. Jim.Mac wuZ kinda game manager. He was CooL Tho
@@chizzyschwartz1528
The whoLe BeaRs Defense wuZ STacked:
Refrigerator Perry
DenT Super BowL MvP
McrmichaeL
SingLeTaRy
LT was way better than Ray Lewis sorry. LT didnt even lift and he was bigger and faster than Lewis.
@@JeTseTJaMiZonspeak English sheniqua
Taylor used to come in where my dad worked and played golf seen him a bunch of times always a nice guy..I will never forget when Taylor was taking a shower in the locker room and a guy that worked there stole his Super Bowl ring…he was very upset I will never forget that day I thought he was gonna hurt the guy he was actually working there on work release..
Sure.
@@mitchbrown6652not everyone is a liar like the people you call “friends”
@@KevinjHiggs That is such a weird thing to say considering you don't know me at all. We are perfect strangers and you would just imagine something like out of your head and believe that its true because your brain came up with it? Please get the help that you clearly need....
@@mitchbrown6652 it's because you felt the need to shoot down this anonymous guy's quote for some reason. I think the guy who called you out had plenty to go on actually. You got called out on your troll deuschbaggary. Deal with it.
@@KevinjHiggs
I can still remember the in that draft. I am so glad that I had the privilege to see his whole career from start to finish in person. It truly was awesome!
So basically belichick got carried by the best offensive player of all time AND the best defensive player of all time
Correct
Dang homie, that's something to think about...
So was Phil Jackson.
Every great coach had great offensive or defensive players
or you could say that he made both
LT was the man. To play through what he did. To be drugged up out of his mind and still killing people. Insane. As a giants fan i wish i was born earlier to have seen him live.
If there is one reason to argue for Taylor being the GOAT among defensive players, I want you to name me another player whose play forever changed offensive formations.
In the past, team used to run up to 3 men in the backfield, since rushing took priority and the ball carrier needed someone in the backfield to open lanes or block incoming defenders. Taylor's explosiveness and raw athletic abilities put a damper on this option, as he was fast enough to get to the ball carrier before defenders have a chance to catch him. Whether if it was a quarterback or running back, those loss of yards can matter in the long run.
Taylor's impact on edge rushing is the reason why teams no longer run 3 back formations in the pros. Even for running plays, at most you have 2 guys, though the fullback position is on its way out too, so typically, you only need 1 man in the backfield. For countering bigger and faster edge rushers, tight ends gained prominence as their size and ability to catch gives offenses more versatile positions. In addition, as tight ends are found near the line of scrimmage as opposed to the backfield, they are in a better position to support linemen for blocking edge rushers. Offensive formations changed specifically to counter one guy, and the successors that would follow in his footsteps. Once again, I dare you to name me one person who has impacted the game in a similar manner.
Taylor was great, but not Reggie White great.
@ToddEWalnuts Reggie White was a beast but didn't impact the game in as many ways as LT. Deion Sanders might be the only other defensive player to be able to claim GOAT status
He changed the game in more ways than that -- that hands over your head tackle in order to force a fumble was a technique first used by Lawrence Taylor.
@@ToddEWalnuts LT was better than White, not that the latter was far behind however.
And the offensive formation most credited with that was the one-back offense Joe Gibbs came up with when he was in San Diego in 1980, the year before Lawrence Taylor came into the NFL (and the Chargers demolished the Giants when they played that season). He actually came up with it to make use of Kellen Winslow's unusual talents, while at the same time, having another tight end on the field, but that offensive scheme, keeping a second tight end on the field, was more effective than most at keeping players like Taylor, Hugh Green, and other similar-style players that could rush from the outside at bay as best as possible.
Ltd was absolutely ferocious!!!!!! Unreal combination of speed & strength!!!!!
Man as a Saints fan we missed out on Lawrence Taylor.
Watching LT was like watching a lion hunt its prey.
Facts!
I grew up watching LT. The dude was all over the place. Even if he wasnt recording a sack, he was so disruptive that he gave room for some of the other talented Giants defenders to make plays. To this day he’s the most dominant player I’ve ever seen.
That 1986 season, he just tore up defenses. The game that won him the NFL MVP was that second Redskins game at RFK. Go watch it, how he ended up in the backfield with all those sacks and a forced fumble. The Giants put everything together that season.
I'll never forget him actually crying in sorrow after the Joe Theismann sack oh the humanity shown , he was alot of things people dislike but at the end of the day he was a fellow human being that was the greatest individual defensive player ever
LT was a beast a QB killer
He is the laconic reason why I am a GIANTS fan today. I’ve told him as much in person as we share the same city of Miami.
Football will stop being played and LT will be the greatest defensive player ever not only because of his greatness, but because defenders are simply not allowed to play like him anymore. LT would be flagged for a hundred yards a game today.
Actually, the bigger issue is that players aren't allowed to be literal cocaine fiends anymore. LT isn't LT without cocaine. Once he had to stop using after '88, he was still pretty good, but the sheer dominance was gone.
You can give every LB cocaine and LT will still be better than them so kind of a moot point
@@maximos905 LT immediately ceased being the best pass rusher in the league after he stopped using in '89. I literally just said that.
"Your point is moot"
- guy completely ignoring the point
The greatest Linebacker ever! I wasn't a Giants fan but boy did I enjoy watching LT!
What they don't mention about the Joe Theisman sack is that Lawrence Taylor was severely claustrophobic, and immediately after getting pulled out of the pileup, he ran as fast as he could away from the play, because he couldn't get the image of Theisman, injured and at the bottom of the pile, out of his head.
Can anyone even imagine just how good he could have been without drugs......it's a scary thought because he was simply SO EFFING DOMINANT AS AN OUTSIDE LINEBACKER!
Hey, this is “Shark” from Any Given Sunday! 💪💪💪
Been watching football since '76. I will not argue one bit against LT. Bad, bad man. Took the game to a different level defensively.
The best Lawrence Taylor story I ever heard was I was talking to a wide receiver that was on special teams at North Carolina he said that he got a really good shot on LT. He said LT was none too happy and took exception to this he said that LT hit him so hard he went back to the Huddle scratching his head through his helmet.
Thing with LT is: it's not just the great stats and accolades; he wasn't just a great Linebacker and Passrusher; he was great at everything he did on the football field. He was all over the field. He would line up on one side and they'd try to run away from him and all of a sudden he was on the other side running down the RB. Just nuts. Back then, starters were still used on special teams and he was a great gunner... a gunner!!! Imagine LT running at you fielding a punt. I would've shat my pants. He returned punts, too. Who would voluntarily want to tackle him? His athleticism was just off the charts.
On Tecmo Super Bowl.... He is the FCKING TERMINATOR lookin for Connor! RUN BOY RUN!!!
Bo was better in tecmo bowl
@@paulfigueroa3885 Miss one tackle on him...He will send you a post card from the end zone! UGH LMAO...but UGH
@@fluoriteheals i agree with you im just saying i had the game and Bo was unstoppable. He was so good that they only let you ise him once per possesion or every 4 downs cant remember exactly
@@paulfigueroa3885 They are both unstoppable. Playing against either just seemed unfair, especially BO
Taylor on defense and Bo Jackson on offense 😂
The only man i ever saw walk up to the entire 1985 bears defense while they were on the sidelines and challenged them right there yelling “BRING IT BRING IT!!!!” Nobody on that sideline flinched.
Bears still beat their ass...lol
Crazy to learn that Bill Belichick directly coached Lawrence Taylor for an entire decade. He literally had a front-row seat to the rise of him becoming the greatest defensive player in NFL History
Dude once said he learned from Lawrence Taylor in the way he analyzed games. LT had a photographic memory that allowed him to instantly make adjustments on the field and off the field. It was his mind that allowed him to thrive for so long, long after his body had worn down.
LT had this radar, in knowing where the play would be going. He created fear in many offensive linemen, as he would make them look silly as they tried to block him. Man, was it fun just watching him go, he just wouldn't quit.
No one today will ever be as great as LT. I saw him play many times. Even attended the practices. You should see when parcells practiced goal line. I just stood there maybe 20 yards away and saw first hand the pure God given ability of LT. It was a child’s game to him. LT had a warrior motor that when needed to be fired up he threw it into high gear. To me it wasn’t the sacks it was his run defense,speed and ability to take correct angles to make great plays. Last thing one of my fondest memories was a late night at his bar in Paramus on route 17. Me and my buddies were at a table. LT walks by says what’s up fellas. We tell him you can’t leave till we all do a shot. With his big grin he agrees and we cheers to him the giants and our families. Hugs and high fives all around. Boy do I miss those days when the NFL was pure and not woke. Haven’t watched and NFL game in 5 years.
LT is hands down the 🐐 for defensive players! Love LT and I’m a lifelong Cowboys fan!
"the Giants are in the playoffs" 6 words I believe
Greatest Linebacker I ever saw . And his bio is honest purty much , to me .
One of the not talked about attributes of LT is he wasn't a dirty player.
There's a clip somewhere that used to be played on NFL Films when I was a kid, it's of Taylor tackling someone by the jersey, with 2 fingers! He only had the jersey hooked on his finger and HE STILL tackled the guy.
7:30 those are 6 words Einstein.
Imagine LT plays in todays Era with all the passing revolution, he will have a 30 sack season or even 40
LT is the greatest defensive player of all time, but Reggie White's 1987 season surpasses ALL defensive seasons. In a strike shortened season, he had 21 sacks in 12 games.
I wouldn't ever want to diminish the Minister of Defense, Reggie White was a force. But, there were some replacement players playing in many of these games if I am not mistaken?
Why don't you look up the 1971 season by Alan Page. He won the MVP that year. And if his sacks had been counted, he would have had over 20 in 14 games.
You know the giants had a chance to get him omg
@@robertkelly6282 Sacks are overrated in my book. Interceptions are more important. Sacks stop one play.... interceptions stop one play and your team gets the the football.
Loved watching him play.
GOAT at 3 levels:
Reggie White
LT
Ed Reed
Aaron Donald needs to be there.
@@christhewolf4246ray lewis too
No shade to Ed Reed but Deion Sanders is the defensive back GOAT
Yeah but what makes LT the ultimate GOAT is that he could and did play at all three levels. He would stuff the run on one play, sack the QB on the next play, and then be 30 yards down field covering a receiver step for step. Those other guys were great....but they couldn't do what LT did .....
@@christhewolf4246 this! Donald was rare. like you just dont make them like him
As an eagles fan, I still have nightmares. There is no other player on any team, at any position, that I have nightmares about. He'll beat your offense physically. And he'll do that while also outthinking them. Deadly combination. Best ever.
requesting a d line vid: purple people eaters, steel curtain, new york sack exchange, etc
Been watching football since the 70’s….I’ve seen a lot of great players on both sides of the ball…he was so gud defensively that he completely changed offenses…not only the greatest defensive player EVER he’s Top 3 football players of ALL TIME!!!
The Goat
As a giants fan, it’s unfortunate I wasn’t alive to see his dominance on the game of football. The most unstoppable player of all time
1:54 😂😂😂 I gotta grow up
I consider myself privileged to have watched him over his entire career. The NY Giants weren't consistently great offensively, but the greatest offenses in the NFL always feared them defensively. That says a lot about LT.
Charles Woodson - the only defensive player ever to win the Heismann
LT won NFL mvp as a defensive player
@tom41149 facts
Technically yea, but that statement is a little misleading. Woodson played both sides of the ball in his Sophomore and Jr. heisman winning seasons, and returned punts scoring TDs from all 3 positions. A pure defensive player has never won the Heisman.
That's college dumb dumb... only 2 guys on defence won the nfl mvp and Charles isn't one of them... Deion was way better then Charles....
Not anymore
When you’re feeling down…and need some motivation….think about Lawrence Taylor, and all that ass kickin’. You will be unstoppable.
LT, Reggie White and Aaron Donald. 3 absolute greatest game wreckers to ever live. there was no scheme or blocking that stopped them. and LT did it at multiple levels which is wild
Ever hear of Dick Butkus?
@@romeotango58not even the best to ever play his position.
Donald didnt get to play long enough. Michael Strahan was better than Donald. J.J. Watt and Bruce Smith are about even with him. I cant put Donald over Ray Lewis just can't. Donald is top 20 for sure because there are just too many other amazing players in history.
@@worstcaseofcrabsever5510 hahahaha
LT was a freak of NATURE and an amazing athlete!
LT is the GOAT hands down not only changing his position, he changed o-line and the game for a person who doesn't touch the ball all the time that is very impressive
Lawrence Taylor & Michael Jordan, the greatest Football Player & greatest Basketball Player both came through at the University of North Carolina is Crazy !
I am a huge UNC, LT, and Jordan fan and had never thought about that.
Yeah the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” they were the days two Super Bowls “Tuna” god brings tears to my eyes ! They were great years !
Would have been an interesting conversation if Aaron Donald kept playing.
AD didn't get a position made to block him
@@FalseOracle617but AD didn’t need drugs 💁🏼♂️
@jordyy_vxr8273 LT was on cocaine.. if you think that's performance enhancing you're an actual 🤪🔨
Donald.. if you can't take one look at him and tell he took roids.. welp, again see above.
@@jordyy_vxr8273 You really thought Aaron Donald was natural? 😂😂😂😂
Aaron was a monster and first ballot HOFer no doubt, but you can tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Aaron Donald, but not without a whole chapter only on LT.
Simply the greatest football player ever. He made everyone around him better. Sacks aside, the man was a fierce run stopper.
A lot of guys are overrated. Not LT! LT and Brady were both so good, they tricked the NFL and it’s owners into thinking that Belichick was a genius coach and coordinator
I think you’re spot on 👍
Not just the defensive GOAT, But the GOAT. He changed how the games is played. There’s LT, and then there’s everyone else.
Winning dpoy with just 9.5 sacks is crazy 😂😂😂
9.5 sacks as a linebacker is crazy too
Back in that time, linebackers didn't get that many sacks, outside pass rushers weren't a thing till he made it a thing. OLBs were for outside containment in the run game and containment for screen passes or safety outlet passes. His speed at his size changed the whole concept of what could be done at that position. He is the reason that teams look for outside pass rushers to this day.
They played dirty back then. It hurt to be a good player
You do know that teams threw the ball max 20 times a game? The league was run heavy until the 2010s. Back then team would attempt between 15-25 times a game compared to now on average it’s double that. Between 27 to 42 attempts a game and that’s average. While Mahomes is between 40 and 50. If LT Played in today’s game they would ban him because teams literally wouldn’t be able to do anything .
9 sacks in the 80's is like 15-17 in this era
LT was my all time favorite player. The way I see the NFL, you have certain players in the absolute pantheon, and LT was one of them. The NFL isn't plagued with the stupid "goat" debates that the NBA has.
This man played the game like a maniac. Never anyone better.
meh, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White, Derrick Thomas, Dick Butkus, Sean Taylor, and possibly Junior Seau are greater all time defenders. LT is certainly up there, but then again his legacy was tarnished with the admission of cocaine addiction, which explained his "maniac" playstyle.
@@PringlesCan-y7m 🤣
@@PringlesCan-y7mwow what a lame take
Author is a Giants fan… and I love it.
Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player of all time and this is not even close. Football 🏈 fans who did not see him play have no idea how good he was at football 🏈.
Aaron freaking Donald
Wrong.
@@arishemghoul9571facts 🔥
@@Laotzu819Mean Joe Green, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount. 4 Super Bowls each pick one. Not a Steelers but the Steel Curtain was awesome.
As a Giants fan, it was fun to watch LT line up and watch him follow that ball and stop that guy.
4:08 he literally ran down Barry Sanders
After Barry juked out half of the defense … Barry Sanders had elite speed
It takes the greatest to run him down.
Too bad the Lions never found a good long term solution to QB...
@@Iamhungey or a good O-Line either
He was explosive, he reminds me of derrick thomas of the chiefs of the 90s. Lawrence taylor was intimidating on defense.
LT made several quarterbacks STERILE with just one tackle! Just ask Vinny Testaverde LMAO!!!!
The most dominant player I have ever seen. Im 50 years old and been watching the NFL since I was 7. Nota a Giants fan either.
You should do a baseball channel
LT was a monster on a completely different level then anyone before or after def the greatest defensive player I ever seen
If anyone says someone other than LT, youre immediately disregarded
Facts 😂
Ray Lewis, without him Ravens do not win TWO super Bowls…
🤔
@superzero4250 without LT, you don't get Ray, and I love Ray but without 56, there is no 52...
@@MRHEEL-ys2rq Ray Lewis did not play in the say style nor manner as Lawrence Taylor. Taylor was a blindside pass rusher from the Linebacker position. Ray Lewis was an all purpose linebacking general who called out defensive coverages as he saw fit for the situation, whose tackles dwarfed LT. Lewis’s style of play was similar to Teddy Bruschi or Seth Joyner… Taylor was not that guy…
Now, Derrick Thomas was absolutely in the same vain as Lawrence Taylor. The same can be said for Von Miller as well… Miller is the evolution of what Taylor started, and like Taylor, he also has TWO Super Bowl rings. One with the Broncos a defense he anchored, and the other with the Rams…
So NO, I respectfully disagree. Ray Lewis owes little to Lawrence Taylor, and maybe more to Mike Singletary…
🤔
Years ago, I was friends with L.T. I was around the man when he was surrounded by good looking women. He was always extremely polite and non intrusive. He was always approachable, would talk to you about anything and just an over all great guy. On one occasion L.T. went kind of weird. Even though we haven't spoken in years, this is a private memory and I'll keep it to myself. Even so, L.T.'s weirdness did not freak me out because he's a fun loving character. It was nothing sexual or illegal. It was far from it. It was funny as hell but, like I said. I'll keep it private.
L.T. is probably one of the greatest players in history. To be great is not only physical but mental. The man is incredibly intelligent. I just can't compare him to any other player. He's one of a kind great. He epitomizes the word "Great." Damn, L.T., we miss you.
Greatest defensive player ever!
My favorite anecdote was the one offensive lineman that wgen asked if he ever made eye contact with Lawrence, he replied, "Yes once, he just laughed."
He’s actually the best NFL player of all time- not just defensive.
Lol
@@zekeharris5276 its true
2nd best all time
There are quite a few ranking systems that has him first
👎
LT is my goat overall, offense or defense. He has had a huge impact on both sides of the ball and is a game changer. That's goat status. No other player game out of the gate ready like LT (rookie season).
So bill belichick coached both goats on offense and defense but can’t get a positive wining record without them, and still people call him the goat coach? Sounds like a scam to me 😂
Do the same rules apply to Phil Jackson?
FACTS!!!!
@@itz-luigi1210 Yes
Winning not wining.... you a maga voter🤔
@@atg1338 🤣🤣 not even American bro, the auto correct couldn’t save me in this one. Just like Belichick’s players 😅
If you needed a defensive player for your team, Lawrence Taylor was the man to be on your team.