Lawrence Taylor was drafted No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in the 1981 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 146 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #2
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 184
- Years as starter
- 13
- Career AV
- 1461st at North Carolina
- Pro Bowls
- 10
- All-Pro
- 8
The pick
How Lawrence Taylor came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 146 career approximate value
- Games played
- 184
- Seasons as a starter
- 13
- Career approximate value
- 1461st among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 146100% of career value
- Final season
- 199312 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl
Around pick 2
Who came off the board on either side of Lawrence Taylor.
South Carolina · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
UCLA · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
North Carolina in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Zach Brown
LB · TEN · 2012
North Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
#36
Buddy Curry
LB · ATL · 1980
North Carolina
#235
Carlton Bailey
LB · BUF · 1988
North Carolina
#17
Brian Simmons
LB · CIN · 1998
North Carolina
#36
Mike Wilcher
LB · LAR · 1983
North Carolina
#106
David Thornton
LB · IND · 2002
North Carolina
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Lawrence Taylor in the 1981 NFL Draft
Lawrence Taylor is a Linebacker out of North Carolina selected No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in the 1981 NFL Draft. 184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 146 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Lawrence Taylor drafted?
Lawrence Taylor was selected No. 2 overall by the New York Giants in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/lawrence-taylor.
What college did Lawrence Taylor play for?
Lawrence Taylor played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Lawrence Taylor's NFL career turn out?
184 regular-season games · 13 seasons as a starter · 146 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 8× All-Pro · 10× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/lawrence-taylor.