Former North Carolina football player and Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Lawrence Taylor attended the Tar Heels‘ game against Texas Christian University on Sept. 1, as the college debuted new head coach Bill Belichick. The event brought out several former college and National Football League athletes, including Michael Jordan and Randy Moss.
Taylor played at North Carolina from 1977 to 1980, transitioning from defensive line to linebacker during his time in Chapel Hill. He led the 1980 Atlantic Coast Conference champion team to an eleven-one record, which was the last time the Tar Heels won the conference title. During that season, Taylor recorded a program-record sixteen sacks, finished with sixty-nine total tackles, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He was named ACC Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-America selection. Taylor finished his college career with twenty-one sacks.
Following his collegiate performance, Taylor was selected as the second overall pick in the 1981 National Football League Draft by the New York Giants. At that time, Belichick served as a linebackers and special teams coach for New York and later became defensive coordinator in 1985. Both Taylor and Belichick were with the Giants from 1981 through 1990.
Taylor went on to play thirteen seasons with New York and is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in league history. His professional career included 1,088 total tackles, 142 sacks, nine interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. He helped lead New York to two Super Bowl victories.
Originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, Taylor attended Lafayette High School locally before starting football at age fifteen and playing organized football beginning in eleventh grade.
