New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor was lately ranked as having the third-best rookie season of all time.
The thirty third Group even mentioned that Taylor’s rookie season has a case for the most effective of all time and even at quantity three it ranks as the most effective rookie season of any defender.
Many NFL historians imagine he could be the league’s finest total participant. Taylor is the one participant in NFL historical past to win Defensive Rookie of the Yr and the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the Yr in the identical season.
What’s so stunning is Taylor wasn’t even the consensus Defensive Rookie of the Yr, as Ronnie Lott, talked about above, acquired greater than 27 % 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 yr, 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 adjusted how groups account for star move rushers. His depth and talent to wreak havoc are simply two of the numerous the explanation why he’s so excessive up on this listing.
The three-time Defensive Participant of the Yr 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 retaining monitor of tackles, quarterback hits, and different key stats till after Taylor’s profession.
Both method, Taylor was a drive 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 utterly modified the way in which the sport was performed.
His presence was additionally felt when it comes to staff success as Taylor ended an 18-year postseason drought for Huge Blue. This began a mini-dynasty in East Rutherford because the Giants would make the playoffs six occasions in a span of 10 years, win 9 playoff video games, and win two Tremendous Bowls.
The Tar Heel product is accountable for a lot of the Giants’ success over this decade and is way and away the best New York Large of all time.
