Frank Thomas

Notable Sports Figures
Career Statistics
Yr Team GP SACK INT TD
1981 NYG 16 - 1 -
1982 NYG 9 7.5 1 1
1983 NYG 16 9 2 -
1984 NYG 16 11.5 1 -
1985 NYG 16 13 - -
1986 NYG 16 20.5 - -
1987 NYG 12 12 3 -
1988 NYG 12 15.5 - -
1989 NYG 16 15 - -
1990 NYG 16 10.5 1 1
1991 NYG 14 7 - -
1992 NYG 9 5 - -
1993 NYG 16 6 - -
TOTAL 184 132.5 9 2
NYG: New York Giants.
ment he issued at the time said: “In the past year, due to
substance abuse, I have left the road I had hoped to follow
both as a player and a public figure.” When he
emerged from treatment, he went on to have the best
season of his career with the Giants, leading them to a
Super Bowl victory. But Taylor would lead an on-again,
off-again relationship with substance abuse.
Lawrence Taylor’s off-the-field problems stirred up
controversy when he was nominated for the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 1999. The Washington Post that year reported
that some of the thirty-six media members who
voted for the Hall of Fame were prepared “to bypass
Taylor because of his legal troubles that include drug-related
arrests and income tax problems.” Taylor didn’t
help the situation by refusing to apologize about his
past. But the guidelines for entrance into the Hall asked
voters to consider only on-the-field accomplishments.
Taylor was voted in.
Lawrence Taylor gained his reputation by doing
things outside the lines. Though quite possibly one of
the best linebackers to play the game, he’s often referred
to in the context of “drug abuse” or “breaking Joe Theisman’s
leg” (which happened in a now-famous Monday
Night Football game). But Taylor is so much more than
that. He starred for the New York Giants, setting new
standards for how linebackers operated on the field. Taylor
brought about the sack statistic, and he dominated
the playing field. His personal life was plagued with
substance abuse problems, yet because of his behavior
off the field, his induction into the Hall of Fame and his
reputation is one marked by controversy.
SELECTED WRITINGS BY TAYLOR:
(With David Falkner) LT: Living on the Edge, Times
Books, 1987.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Books
Goodman, Michael E. Lawrence Taylor (Sports Close
Ups 2). New York: Crestwood House, 1988.
“Lawrence Taylor.” Great Athletes, vol. 7. Hackensack,
N.J.: Salem Press, Inc., 2718-2720.
Liss, Howard. The Lawrence Taylor Story. Enslow Publishers,
Inc., 1987.
Taylor, Lawrence, with David Falkner. LT: Living on the
Edge. New York: Times Books, 1987.
Periodicals
Taylor
Adande, J.A. “NFL Should Honor Taylor with Blitz of
Attention Instead of Seemingly Low-Key Approach
to Hall of Fame Induction.” Los Angeles Times (August
7, 1999): 2.
Boston Globe (December 13, 1981).
Boston Globe (October 14, 1984).
Boston Globe (January 21, 1987).
Bradley, J.E. “LT and the Home Team.” Esquire (December
1985): 306.
Contemporary Newsmakers 1987, Issue Cumulation.
Detroit: Gale, 1988.
Delcos, John. “LT is winning the Battle With Time.”
Football Digest (April 1991): 44.
Ellenport, Craig. “The defense rests.” Sport (January
1993): 48.
Huff, Melissa. “Football legend discusses addiction.”
Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service (August 23,
1996).
Lieber, Jill. “Blitzed by himself. (Lawrence Taylor admits
substance-abuse problem).” Sports Illustrated
(September 19, 1988): 53.
Lieber, Jill. “Invincible? No, Just Real Mean.” Sports Illustrated
(January 26, 1987): 36.
Los Angeles Times (September 7, 1986).
Los Angeles Times (January 23, 1987).
Maske, Mark. “Taylor is Elected to Hall of Fame.”
Washington Post (January 31, 1999): D01.
Myers, Gary. “Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor leave a
gaping hole in Giants’ heart.” Knight-Ridder/Tribune
News Service (July 13, 1994).
New York Times (August 2, 1985).
New York Times (March 21, 1986).
New York Times (January 4, 1987).
New York Times (March 25, 1987).
Philadelphia Daily News (October 9, 1986).
Philadelphia Daily News (January 16, 1987).
Philadelphia Daily News (January 21, 1987).
Shapiro, Milton. “Search and Destroy.” New York Times
Magazine (August 26, 1984): 18.
Simers, T.J. “Shame on ‘Fame If Taylor Is Voted In.”
Los Angeles Times (January 26, 1999): 2.
Sports Illustrated (April 1, 1985).
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