LT: Over The Edge

Lawrence Taylor’s motto seemed to be live fast, die young, and leave a trail of battered quarterbacks in your wake. After being unleashed on the NFL in 1981 as an outside linebacker, Taylor’s unparalleled will and unprecedented skill spurred the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles.

In 1986 he recorded a career-high 20-½ sacks and was the league’s MVP, becoming the first defensive player to win the award since 1971, and he was voted to the Pro Bowl for a record ten straight years. Taylor not only revolutionized the linebacker position but he forever changed how defense is played. Nearly unstoppable, on the field he seemed superhuman. Off the field, he had feet of clay, as the wildness that made him a magnificent player often streaked into his personal life. Retiring at the age of 34 and suddenly free of the shackles of the NFL’s drug abuse policies, LT gave in to his addiction, in a wild ride of booze, cocaine, and sex. After intensive therapy and rehab, by 1999, LT was finally clean and able to pull his life together. Here is the story of his extraordinary career-and his unforgettable life.