NFL Legend Lawrence Taylor Recalls Trading Lines With Samuel L. Jackson

When people hear the name Lawrence Taylor, the first thing that usually comes to mind is dominance on the football field.

A Hall of Famer, two-time Super Bowl champion, and the 1986 NFL MVP, Taylor redefined the linebacker position with his speed, power, and fearless play.

But in a recent conversation with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the Giants legend reminded fans that his story isn’t confined to football. From hip-hop to Hollywood, LT has always had range.

One of the more surprising chapters in his life came in 2000, when he appeared in the film Shaft alongside Samuel L. Jackson. For fans, it was a curveball—seeing one of the NFL’s most feared players trading lines with one of Hollywood’s most commanding actors. For Taylor, though, it was a moment he still looks back on fondly.

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“Do I remember doing the movie with those guys and stuff? Of course I remember, man!” Taylor said, laughing. “As a matter of fact, I was talking about it today! But those are the little moments that you know—you just—it’s not what you do but it’s what you did. And I’ll tell you what, I’m just happy that I was just to be a part of that. Yeah.”

That same energy carried over into the way music shaped his game. Known for wreaking havoc on the field, Taylor revealed that his pre-game soundtrack wasn’t all about aggressive hype. Instead, he leaned into smoother sounds to stay grounded before unleashing chaos between the whistles.

“See, I’m a smooth type of person,” he explained. “I don’t want nothing wild… just talk to me gently like they’re trying to get me to sleep and then I go out there and have a great time!”

Still, LT didn’t shy away from the harder-edged stuff, giving credit to the likes of Public Enemy when the time was right. “Oh, Fight the Power? That’s good! I ain’t got no problem with that!” he said, smiling.

And when it came to personal favorites, he kept it classic. “I like Luther Vandross. I like Whitney Houston… I like a person that sings to me and puts me to sleep, that’s what I’m talking about!”