Lawrence Taylor

New York Giants 2nd pick

OLB · North Carolina · 1981–1993

Draft Details

Year

1981

Round

Round 1

Pick

2nd overall

Team

New York Giants

Position

OLB

College

North Carolina

Lawrence Taylor Career Stats

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
10× Pro Bowl selection, 8× first-team All-Pro.
Primary starter for 13 seasons.
Ranks 1st in the 1981 draft class in sacks (142).

Career Totals

Games	Sacks	Def INT
184	142	9

Career span: 1981–1993.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

Lawrence Taylor is a former outside linebacker out of North Carolina, selected by the New York Giants with the 2nd overall pick (round 1) in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 184 regular-season games from 1981 to 1993. He was named to 10 Pro Bowls and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

More from the 1981 Draft

Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	NO	George Rogers	RB	South Carolina
1	1	NO	Dave Wilson	QB	Illinois; Fullerton
1	3	NYJ	Freeman McNeil	RB	UCLA
1	4	SEA	Kenny Easley	DB	UCLA
1	5	LA	E.J. Junior	LB	Alabama
1	6	GB	Rich Campbell	QB	California
1	7	TB	Hugh Green	LB	Pittsburgh
1	8	SF	Ronnie Lott	SAF	USC
1	9	LA	Mel Owens	LB	Michigan
1	10	CIN	David Verser	WR	Kansas

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