New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor was just lately ranked as having the third-best rookie season of all time.
The thirty third Workforce even stated that Taylor’s rookie season has a case for the perfect of all time and even at quantity three it ranks as the perfect rookie season of any defender.
Many NFL historians consider he could be the league’s finest total participant. Taylor is the one participant in NFL historical past to win Defensive Rookie of the 12 months and the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months in the identical season.
What’s so shocking is Taylor wasn’t even the consensus Defensive Rookie of the 12 months, as Ronnie Lott, talked about above, obtained greater than 27 p.c of the vote. Taylor recorded 9.5 sacks and one interception as a rookie, however the stats don’t inform the story.
Earlier than Taylor arrived, the New York Giants had gone 18 seasons with out making the postseason. Nevertheless, in Taylor’s first 12 months, the Giants had the No. 3 ranked scoring protection and never solely made the playoffs but additionally defeated the Eagles in Spherical 1, advancing to the Divisional Spherical for the primary time since 1963.
Taylor modified the sport and altered how groups account for star move rushers. His depth and talent to wreak havoc are simply two of the various the reason why he’s so excessive up on this listing.
The three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months earned his first throughout his rookie season the place he had 9.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble restoration –the NFL didn’t begin maintaining observe of tackles, quarterback hits, and different key stats till after Taylor’s profession.
Both manner, Taylor was a power to be reckoned with the second he entered the league because it started his stretch of six straight First-team All-Professional nominations and 10 straight Professional Bowls.
Taylor was unstoppable when it got here to dashing the quarterback and he fully modified the best way the sport was performed.
His presence was additionally felt by way of group success as Taylor ended an 18-year postseason drought for Massive Blue. This began a mini-dynasty in East Rutherford because the Giants would make the playoffs six instances in a span of 10 years, win 9 playoff video games, and win two Tremendous Bowls.
The Tar Heel product is liable for a lot of the Giants’ success over this decade and is much and away the best New York Big of all time.