Lawrence Taylor surprised he’s still alive at 56

Thirty-four years ago, a young player for the New York Giants named Lawrence Taylor began to redefine the outside linebacker position. He turned 56 Wednesday.

Lawrence Taylor came to the New York Giants in 1981 as the second overall pick in the NFL Draft out of North Carolina amid huge expectations.

Giants general manager George Young told reporters at the time, “Taylor is the best college linebacker I’ve ever seen. Sure, I saw Dick Butkus play. There’s no doubt in my mind about Taylor. He’s bigger and strong than Butkus was. On the blitz, he’s devastating.”

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And he was devastating on the blitz, to the tune of 132½ career sacks in a 13-year NFL career.

He was just as devastating off the field, to himself.

Taylor was suspended multiple times during his career for failed drug tests and in 2011 pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct involving a 16-year-old girl.

But he told the New York Post that all in all, he’s glad he’s still around.

“It’s hard to believe that I got to 56, but I’m here,” Taylor said. “I would like to say my life is perfect, but it’s not, but I have a good life. I am actually enjoying being an elder statesman and doing what I do in life, you know?”

Taylor has spent years battling drug addiction and depression and he doesn’t shy away from those struggles.

“Don’t get me wrong—it hasn’t been an easy road,” Taylor said. “It’s been a rough road. It’s been a rocky road, it’s been a rough road … and every day I face things that really make you just hesitant about how life is, but one thing I know, I’ll get through it and I can make it happen. Bad things will happen, but I have a lot of good things that happen in my life.

“I have a lot in my life to be thankful for.”

Taylor is the guy who made No. 56 cool for a generation of kids and at any Giants game at MetLife Stadium, the stands will be marked by hundreds of fans still wearing the iconic number.

His longtime agent, Mark Lepselter, told the Post that 56-year-old L.T. is a much mellower version than the original.

Taylor doesn’t disagree with that assessment.

“The No. 1 thing is I love the game,” Taylor said. “I love the game of football, I loved contact, I love what the game has done for me. As I get older, every day I respect and I love how the fans treated me, how the fans treat me.

“Because at some point in time, it’s all gonna be over. And it’s all about what type of impact did you have on the game? Listen, maybe I’m more mellowed out than I used to be, but I’m more appreciative of the fans than I used to be.”

Taylor was a first-ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1999.

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