Lawrence Taylor
It’s likely that no defensive player in this history induced unbridled terror in opposing quarterbacks the way Lawrence Taylor did, as a member of the New York Giants. His teammate Beasley Reece once told the New York Times: “I’ve seen quarterbacks look at Lawrence and forget the snap count.” Former offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore of the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles is reported as saying he’d start having cold sweats midweek, at the prospect of facing Taylor that ensuing week. Taylor wrought such havoc on opposing offenses that Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs changed the way traditional offenses were schemed back then, eschewing a second running back in place of a second tight end, just to he could stop Taylor from destroying their offense.