3 legendary NFL defenders who changed their position

NFL defenders that changed the game: 1. Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants

Somewhere, former New Orleans Saints head coach and general manager Bum Phillips is shaking his head. In 1981, New Orleans took George Rogers with the hope that he could be as great as Earl Campbell was for Phillips during his time with the Houston Oilers. Rogers made three Pro Bowls, but he was nothing like the man taken after him.

The New York Giants took Taylor despite having a strong linebacker core. What could Taylor do to take over and make an impact? Well, 20 minutes into his first practice, he’s already on the first team. Oh, and did we not mention he came from North Carolina, where, at the time, another legend (Michael Jordan) was growing his own legacy?

The NFL MVP in 1986, Taylor made sure that teams prioritized the left and right tackle positions moving forward. Don’t ever think of putting a running back in for a block because they’d often fly backward into quarterbacks. Not only did Taylor dominate on the field, he even got Bill Parcells to make him an exception to his strict rules.

New York had an eighteen-year playoff drought before Taylor arrived. As a rookie, Taylor brought them there, and his play against the Eagles in the Wild Card game, specifically his hit on Wally Henry on a punt return, helped spur the Giants to an upset. Soon afterward, Taylor would walk away with two Super Bowl rings and an impact on the game that is still discussed today.