Lawrence Taylor: the first NFL Defensive MVP

Lawrence Julius Taylor, nicknamed "L.T.", is a former American football linebacker who spent his entire career playing for the New York Giants in the National Football League. He is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player of all time.

[@mashokaise6881]

He'd still be running down backs and terrorizing quarterbacks today. Absolutely, any time, forever. I watched him live several times, and he was insane! He'd honestly wreck today.

[@samfolkestad1726]

Right. I love hearing how athletes are so much more athletic today but there still isn’t a linebacker like LT or a corner like Deion or running backs like Barry & Bo.

[@edwardbailey7911]

Not with today's rules in the NFL. He would get flagged for "Unnecessary Roughness" all the time. Can't get the "Poster Boys" (Quarterbacks) hurt by hitting them too hard. LOL

[@user-rc3gd8ij6m]

Alan Page of the Minnesota Vikings was the first defensive MVP in 1971.

[@ronveri2838]

very true......change the name of this video.

[@phillipstrait9387]

I'm a die hard LT fan is reason I'm a Giants fan in Ohio ,I did not know that about Page I know when he retired became a judge incredibly talented man

[@anthonymitchell6436]

I'm a huge Giants fan since 1976. LT was the first Unanimous Defense MVP, but Alan Page was the first one to win the award.

[@dwduartejr]

Thank you. I saw the title and I'm thinking about Alan Page in 1971. And you are talking about a defensive tackle.

[@RGsmokinthathunnitHMNdawgpound]

i was about to comment that

[@JohnDoe-qu7gm]

The greatest football player to ever play the game. The true GOAT

[@RJTHO]

A lil misleading on the title makes one forget about alan page winning it in 1971

[@ckobo84]

Also seemed to get him mixed up with Mark Gastineau who held the sack record with 22.

[@g.shumway5925]

It’s not misleading, it’s flat out incorrect😂.

[@g.shumway5925]

@@ckobo84If they mess up the title, rest assured other stuff will be messed up as well😂

[@cprealone]

Yes sir LT was the last defensive player to win MVP

[@s.tavares3257]

I was going to say that!

[@floridagator1765]

One of first defensive players that turned around a WHOLE FRANCHISE’s identity and all around success! He was UNBELIEVABLE to see Every week. BEFORE LT the Giants were 💩

[@joel8692]

he damn sure did and what's even more impressive is how he went on drug binges on Fridays and show up on Sundays and still destroy teams lol.i remember seeing LT come to my neighborhood in a gold Lexus every other friday night to buy crack from a Dominican dude on my block. Lol

[@michaelbirke6050]

Watching LT come off the edge was just like watching Michael Jordan elevate from the foul line on one of his awesome dunks. Electric!! Both of them changed their sport. Blessed to have watched both their careers.

[@dave607]

Taylor, Butkus, Lott, Reggie White. They would have dominated all eras.

[@shawn1432]

LT was a pleasure to watch he was a beast.

[@AHMAD-2324]

An IMO Lawrence Taylor is the Greatest player in NFL history.

[@ckobo84]

I watched a Giants game from 1986 and he was dropping in coverage on about half of passing plays. Could you imagine his sack totals if he was a full time pass rusher?

[@peterpellechia5985]

Thats why i think he has no peer,he did everything at an elite level!!!

[@thenorthremembers4221]

Every LB & LT should thank Lawrence Taylor! Now that’s what I call SPECIAL.

[@boris2997]

Greatest defensive player of all time 🐐

[@iamthegreatcornholio7836]

have you ever heard of wally hilgenberg?

[@mr.southsideofchicago740]

@@iamthegreatcornholio7836have you ever heard of a person having an opinion?

[@iamthegreatcornholio7836]

just joking@@mr.southsideofchicago740

[@xxxxxx-ow2hp]

.

[@boris2997]

@iamthegreatcornholio7836 never heard of him if he was better than LT than everyone would know who he is

[@centralpete6044]

Alan Page played his last season the same season LT started. Alan Page played Defensive Tackle at a weight just ~10 lbs. heavier than LT. At the end of his tenure with the Vikings, Page got into the jogging craze that was going on and dropped to only about 225 lbs. and was still playing defensive tackle! Bud Grant didn’t think Page would last playing at that weight and with a stubborn Page unwilling to add weight back on, Bud shipped him off to the Bears. Pound for pound, very few players can compare to the strength and short space quickness and agility that Page displayed…he was really a marvelous and unique athlete.

[@charlesgraham9954]

LT is on my make a team from any era list for sure. Giants wasn't my team, but i watch to see Taylor play.

[@Cronellishways]

LT was a monster, I didn't realize until I got older that was him in Any Given Sunday. He was scary even in that movie.

[@the_mike_essen_show2484]

Lawrence Taylor is the Greatest Player in NFL history.

[@keysersoze5920]

Alan Page, 1971 NFL MVP.

[@Rushmore222]

The playing level where the opposition changes its tactics solely to specifically stop you, and they are still unable to do so. Like Jim Brown. Sometimes, a player really is the best football player in existence.

[@johnraynarvoiceover]

Great ep on the best defensive player of all time!

[@jeffwilson3527]

He is the reason offensive tackles get paid so much.

[@hectorlopez1069]

He was a beast and a great player. He would get it done on defense.

[@yankees29]

“Let’s go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs baby!”

[@wowbobwow37]

The greatest defensive player in my lifetime.

[@jeromegold3216]

Great content. He might have been the last to do it. But Alan Page was the first.

[@dajay2k]

Cracked out of his mind

[@joannecallari3219]

Which leads to what?

[@williampietsch2034]

In addition to the Alan Page corrections / comments… here is another, the speaker says “a fellow linebacker Brian Kelly” this is not the current LSU coach. LT played with a linebacker named Brian Kelley… different spelling. Different person. Need a little bit more in depth research here guy.

[@billwatkins8227]

If there was an all time draft , LT would be my first pick. I know Brady was great, but I could live with Unitas, Montana, or Mahomes as a second pick. There was no one before or since as good as Taylor. Unlike every other player in football, he brought about strategy and rule changes.

[@emptyhand777]

Your research skills are dubious based on the title of this video. Alan Page was the first league MVP who played defense. Defensive Tackle to be precise.

[@BasilFomeen]

Not defensive rookie of the year, the only rookie ever to win defensive player of the year

[@s.tavares3257]

I believe Alan Page won in 1971. That would make him the first.

[@bourbontrail565]

Free 🎱’s , Drink, Cars , Women and everything else I’m forgetting. Amazing he was !!!

[@johnm4830]

BUTKUS = G.O.A.T. !!

[@howardweinstein1324]

Imagine how much better he would have been without the injures and the drugs. Scary!

[@juan6810]

The coke was what kept his motor running

[@KarlHoke]

Small error: Pitt outside linebacker Hugh Green won the Lombardi Award, not Taylor. Green also won Walter Camp, Maxwell Award and narrowly lost the Heisman Award to running back George Rogers who was the top draft pick that year (Giants forever grateful to the Saints for passing on Taylor). Taylor didn't win any national postseason awards because Hugh Green won them all. Green was a four time All American and college football's most decorated linebacker to this day, but as one NFL scout described Taylor: "Give me Hugh Green, now make him 20lbs bigger but also make him quicker than Green, faster than Green, stronger than Green and a lot meaner than Hugh Green and that's who Lawrence Taylor is.

[@yourfavoritetoy]

i know i dont need to rub it in but alan page of the purple people eaters was first to win mvp on defense. he was also a judge after football

[@barrylippard1846]

LT was a powerhouse! Just liked to punish the other team.

[@RT-far-T]

There were clowns running about saying Micah Parsons is the new LT!!!? 🤣 What kind of foolish talk is that!? Bill Belichik said this when a few years ago Kalil Mack was the "new LT!" Belichik shook his head and said, "We're talking about Lawrence Taylor."

[@carldavis4278]

I used to wear his jersey to practice

[@jameskim1505]

If Bill said so then it must be it then. LT the GOAT

[@lwmson]

WRONG!!!!! LT was not the first NFL defensive player to win NFL MVP. That honors goes to Minnesota Viking DT Alan page.He won the NFL MVP award back in the early 70's.

[@peteyprimo7173]

He mentions Alan Page in the video . Did you watch it?

[@lwmson]

@@peteyprimo7173 No I didn't. I referring to the title of the video, which is false.

[@yoavbeneliyahu6686]

Maybe this year is the chance of defense to take throne. The dline being the strongets in recent year across the league, and all of the defensive adjustments are reaching to success, with huge picks all across the board. Real football is back

[@treybear8174]

*Hes not the first defender to win NFL MVP* Switch it to “The Last NFL Defensive MVP”

[@nickgrant8537]

Alan Page #88

[@lariojaalta890]

At 00:57 you mention Taylor won the Lombardi Award as a senior at UNC. A couple of things wrong here. FIrst, you put up an image of the Lombardi Trophy given to the winner of the Super Bowl. Second, he never won the Lombardi Award. In 1980 Hugh Green won the award. Here's the wiki for the Lombardi Award given to college football players who "best embodies the values and spirit of NFL's legendary coach Vince Lombardi" by the Rotary Club of Houston, Texas: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombardi_Award

[@phuckerpower]

"Remember, kids. Don't do crack."

[@Drbob369]

i saw LT at meadowlands in 86 ...he caused a fumble inside the 10 for years now giants and jets are big time clown tankers

[@Porthos240]

Needless to say at least this stage, but how about showing some respect for the honorable justice Alan Page J?

[@ckobo84]

I always thought Allen Page was playing out of position as a defensive tackle, he got steamrolled in the run game.

[@nick94nw]

You probably wanna change that title cause it’s incorrect for first defensive mvp winner

[@peterpellechia5985]

Who cares about the pro bowl,a popularity contest!!!

[@ianmcguire9535]

Id hate to be the bearer of bad news but he wasn't the last defensive player to get the mvp that would be Von Miller from the broncos

[@doeb3685]

League MVP? Miller has a SB mvp that I remember but that’s it

[@mezanine10]

2014 JJ Watt could have been NFL league MVP

[@mikeyoung4130]

There is no question that the greatest defensive player to ever play in the history of the NFL is Lawrence Taylor

[@hertfordmoore7250]

The Lawrence Taylor was the Michael Jordan of the NFL .

[@roopan1968]

Good God...has anyone actually watched the video? Yes, the title is misleading and obviously incorrect. The narrator does state in the video that Page was the 1971 MVP.

[@user-ld4nm7xo7x]

The only defenseman who involved in tacklings that broke Joe Theisman's leg and put Joe Mantana into big concussion on 49-6 rout of the 49ers. Very very unfortunate.

[@johnrocha3946]

49-3

[@MrPottsTeaching]

Id like to watch the video. But I don't want to get a seizure from all this flashing lights and video effects LT doesn't need. A+++ Narrationtho. LT doesn't need flash he's Tha flash

[@JBBooks-qv2kp]

Alan Page??

[@eeNORMous1]

He was not the first.... Alan Page was the first but LT was the last. Go Giants!!

[@jasperhayes-klein2929]

The video skips at: 4:31

[@SportsOriginStories]

thank you I will fix that

[@tomwalsh63]

that lions game he had a hyrt pectoral i think?

[@dezzdinn]

Who had the sack record until Strahan?

[@ugotmossed84]

ALAN PAGE!!!!!!

[@scorpionllx3896]

Alan Page has left the Chat

[@peterpellechia5985]

He has 142 sacks

[@genestippell1833]

Carl Banks should have a bust right next to taylor in the hof. Banks on the strong side had to constantly blow up tightends, pulling linemen and fullbacks giving taylor time to chase from behind. In his prime banks was as good as it gets in his role. Each time I see a video of the giants from that era I appreciate banks even more. Each week belichick would show up in the meeting room with that weeks game plan..."Carl you lineup strong side and block destruct everything coming your way. Lawrence, you just go find the football. Everyone else, base cover 2".

[@peterpellechia5985]

Carl banks is not a hall of famer,any front 7 player that played with lt was better because of lt.anyone that thinks lt was better because of who he played with either never saw a game he played or is not paying attention!!!

[@peterpellechia5985]

Carl banks had only one great season.

[@genestippell1833]

@@peterpellechia5985 I coached defense for decades. The term "Great" is ambiguous. As taylor got banged up and started aging, banks' role expanded that allowed him to be more visible for the tv audience. As a pure block destructor of fullbacks and tightends (no glory there) he was great. Someone should ask Taylor and Carson their opinion. Carson also got to get in on a lot of tackles as banks funneled backs into him. In those days before the spread offenses, the strong side backer had to be a beast. Should also ask bavaro what he thinks, he had to practice against him every week.

[@peterpellechia5985]

@@genestippell1833 just because you coached defense dont mean you know what youre talking about mr.vendetta.so what!!!!!

[@masonrahal6980]

Alan Page

[@juan6810]

In the words of Rick James Cocaine is a hell of a drug

[@Googlescholar72]

Second, Allen Page was the first

[@michaelgarcia5689]

LT Was the GREATEST , NOT EVEN CLOSE.

[@bobbuilder419]

20 sacks forced reckoned with Super Bowl appearances 1 team all pro voted number 1 by the players the players how he didn’t get MVP the crap

[@andrejohnson121]

Wrong , Allan page won it twice

[@jayvontayswing57]

Are y’all sure LT isn’t Zion Williamson Father ??…

[@johnm4830]

BUTKUS 1ST !!

[@peterpellechia5985]

Butkus was amazing but taylor got him beat because of how long hexwas dominant.butkus was dominant only 5 years even though dirty tactics were more prevalent in his time and robbed him of his dominance.thats why he only played 9 years

[@enash19303]

Is Von Miller forgotten?

[@ckobo84]

The cleanest player in the draft. 😂 😂 😂 😂

[@erichall3090]

Yup, the cleanest HOF'er, Super Bowl Champion, etc.....yeah we get it lol.

[@thomasdr08]

Yea. That one didn’t age well, lol

[@yusufdelrio2728]

Strahan broke Gastenaus record not Taylor

[@dickhendricks9610]

Wrong Brian Kelley

[@jerrystraka7856]

ALAN PAGE

[@jamesregier1953]

At 1 10 you say he can jump 6 to 7 feet in the air to block a punt. Crappy high school high jumpers do that at every meet lol. Or did you mean he can jump forward 6 to 7 feet in the air. 6th grade girls can do this. Am I the only one who thought this?

[@markunak6593]

Wasn't Alan Page MVP ?

[@jamesnewberry1191]

I'll bet he is rich !

[@raypratt-bw9ib]

There was truly no rhyme or reason fo LT'S dominance,he was not the biggest guy,was not the strongest guy,but he was quick and honestly I think it cones down to being able to put him all over the line,he had a freakish motor with maybe a little help from the Columbians lol,but u look at REGGIE WHITE a huge dude with crazy moving power,but LT I think it was the system,coaching and feel for where the play was going and to whom,because he didnt just sack QB's he was involved in plays as well,also he had a tremendous group of LB'S with him,but LT was great even befire that,I actually might go back and see some of them old GIANTS gms and see how much of it might have been matchups,because u jyst dont see him overpowering too many TACKLES but his quickness was an issue,but he sure was awesome I was 12 in 86 and a FIN fan fir life but man he was special!!

[@peterpellechia5985]

No help from the columbians and he was a big outside linebacker

[@johng.8600]

The 8 ball HOFer. 😂

[@chasjacks9378]

LT loved the little girls and loved the coke. He is a true American Football hero. LOL

[@MP-tf7cc]

Alan Page was 1st.

[@Supbros1902]

Lawrence Taylor was the greatest defensive player of all time he lost to the 85 bears

[@o.i.c.uvanish9169]

Thumbs down for false title.

[@royhobbs5167]

Ray Lewis is not only the greatest line backer ever he’s the greatest football player ever. LT had a damn good team. Ray led the greatest defense of all time and was easily the most valuable player in 2001, they just didn’t give him the award.

[@xxxxxx-ow2hp]

LOL!!!.....Ray Lewis ever win NFL MVP?......he couldn't hold LT's jock.

[@peterpellechia5985]

Ray lewis didnt have to deal with being trople teamed by blockers moron

[@doeb3685]

Lol stop it

[@MrSoccerball100]

lol….. no

[@IxAMxNIGHTMARE]

He was the ROLB but the other 2 LBs was already on fire and Harry Carson makes the hall of fame even if LT didn't join the team. Just pointing that out first. In 1986, let's say LT didn't play that year. Who gets MVP cause that season was a straight up wreck? I mean Eric Dickerson but no one else except Marino who had went 8 & 8. Rice was in his 2nd year and while he had 1500 yards, when would 1500 be enough? If there was ever a year to give it to a defensive player that would be the year. Still if LT won it for having 20.5 sacks, Aaron Donald should have won it in 2018 for getting that same number while being a DT who is doubled or tripled the whole time.

[@codyclark5995]

Also take in consideration LT played coverage for a lot of plays well. Name a defensive end that does that

[@IxAMxNIGHTMARE]

@@codyclark5995 LT was drafted at DT but was too slow off the line. Belichick put him at ROLB where he spent his entire career. You must be looking at sacks and thinking DE. He didn't have DE bone in his body and coverage was not his strong suit. He got 9 INTs while TJ Watt who is almost always pass rushing has 7 right now in an era where you ain't even allowed to cover a receiver.

[@codyclark5995]

@@IxAMxNIGHTMARE different game. Most passed today are thrown within the 10 yards. At the end of the day he deserved the MVP that year. Simms, Baravo, and Morris were good, but they were not 49ers good in that era. It was Taylor that led them to the championship

[@codyclark5995]

@@IxAMxNIGHTMARE LT was a complete package he was all over the place. You don't see a highlight of JJ running down a back that going towards the Strong side from the Weak side

[@IxAMxNIGHTMARE]

@@codyclark5995 he deserved it because no one in the league was even close to looking good that year except Dickerson and Marino. LT played with 2 other great LBs. There was never a reason to move him. That's like thinking the 2012 49ers moved Aldon Smith or Patrick Willis around. They had 3 great LBs.

[@chilliewilliefromphilly]

👎🏿I'm an 🦅 fan, i love LTs legacy, but get your facts straight.

[@Adam-yx4hi]

LT was so coked up half the time it explains everything.

[@PinkysBane]

Yeah you must obviously be a packer fan because SKOL!!! Alan Page won a defensive MVP in 71.

[@stevenyanchak549]

Fake news.

[@bobbuilder419]

Donald should have got it in 2019 NFL is dumb

[@keepitreal021792ify]

He wasn't tho.

[@tonydejesus2134]

Not the first defensive MVP.

[@peterpellechia5985]

Who cares

[@Terrence-tn9xp]

He was a druggy tho

[@reefferhemp9774]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug, Rick James, anyone 😆🤣🥴😶‍🌫️🎃🃏🛸🪂

[@peterpellechia5985]

Screw you!!!!

[@ForeverImmortal198]

Misleading title. Von Miller won the MVP in SB50.

[@user-ys2wp4cr9g]

Not Superbowl MVP, League MVP

[@dougamundson6836]

Oh, BULLSHIT. Butkus. Oh, wait. Defensive MVP was new award. Butkus was only the Defensive Player of the Year. Sorry. And, by the way, I would take Butkus IN A HEARTBEAT.

[@jasonb6641]

He was on drugs half the time