Former National Football League linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Lawrence Taylor visited the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Tuesday, sharing stories from his playing career and discussing his focus on winning above individual achievements.
Taylor attended North Carolina’s season opener in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Monday alongside Michael Jordan and Roy Williams. The following morning, he was in Arkansas for a conversation with club founder David Bazzel at a luncheon event.
Reflecting on North Carolina’s heavy loss to TCU under Coach Bill Belichick’s debut as a college coach, Taylor commented: “That was an a**-whipping,” adding that he left about three minutes into the third quarter when TCU led 27-7.
Belichick previously won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, teams led by Taylor. During his talk, Taylor spoke about his own accolades but reiterated his primary goal throughout his career: “I just want to win, I don’t care about all that stuff.”
When asked by Bazzel about being considered one of the greatest players in league history, Taylor responded: “I never said I was the best player (…) What I say is this: I play defense. I want to be judged on my defense. If there’s somebody better, then tell me who.”
Discussing competition with Jordan outside football, Taylor said: “We are two alpha males, going at each other (…) I want to kick his a**, he wants to kick my a**. Every time we see each other it’s like, ‘OK, what we doing?’ I don’t care if it’s drinking, golf, whatever, I play to destroy.” When asked who usually came out ahead in their contests he added: “Well, he’s worth $3 billion, so he got me by a little bit.”
Bazzel noted that Taylor is the only player to win both Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same National Football League season. To this Taylor replied: “Wow, wow, you’ve been reading.”
Taylor detailed his beginnings in football at Lafayette High School after being recruited by the coach despite initially focusing on baseball. After graduating in 1977 and joining North Carolina as a defensive lineman before switching positions to linebacker prior to the 1979 season, he recorded 16 sacks in 1980 and earned ACC Player of the Year honors.
He also reflected on being drafted second overall behind George Rogers in 1981 saying: “And once again I got lucky because I could have gone first. I didn’t want to go first — New Orleans.”
Recalling early interactions with then-Giants coach Bill Parcells during his rookie year, Taylor described their exchange: “‘I said,’ You can trade me you can cut me or you can put John Skorupan in front of me.’ It was his job to lose anyway (….) But whatever you do you got to get the hell off my back.’ Parcells he looked at me … he said ‘I’m going to let you do it your way but as soon as screw up you got to do it my way.’ I said ‘Yes cool I’ll do that.’ That was Year 1; I didn’t have to talk with Bill again for next 10 years! What a great guy he is. He knows when he’s wrong. But if you can show him when he thinks he’s right that he’s wrong he’ll listen to you.”
Taylor also addressed issues related to drug use during and after his playing days: “Lot of late nights early mornings. It happened for a while then it went away (….) But you didn’t really change your lifestyle to make it go away it started to go away by itself — it doesn’t work that way.” After Bazzel remarked on overcoming these challenges due to talent alone Taylor replied: “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Could you imagine what I really am?”
The session included comments from former Razorback golfer John Daly shown via video calling Taylor “one of the best friends I’ve ever had” and saying,”Lawrence Taylor’s the best linebacker I think has ever played football (…) You’re going enjoy his stories today God bless y’all Go Hogs.”
Taylor recounted anecdotes from spending time with Daly off the course as well including one instance where Daly convinced him into visiting for promised Italian food which turned out simply be pizza after an hour-long drive.
