Ty Law

Not to be confused with Ty Lawson.
Ty Law

refer to caption

Law with the Broncos during the 2009 season.
No. 22, 24, 26
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1974-02-10) February 10, 1974
Place of birth: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Aliquippa (PA)
College: Michigan
NFL Draft: 1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 53
Touchdowns: 7
Sacks: 5.0
Player stats at NFL.com

Tajuan E. "Ty" Law (born February 10, 1974) is a former American football cornerback who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. Law is a two-time All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, a Pro Bowl MVP, and has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. His 53 career interceptions rank 22nd all-time in NFL history. He is also widely regarded as one of the best Patriots defensive backs of all time. Law was added to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame as the 20th member.

Early years

Law attended Aliquippa High School in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania where he played football, basketball and ran track. He played in football as a cornerback, safety, wide receiver, and running back. He was named MVP of the school's basketball team.[1]

College career

Law had a three-year stint at the University of Michigan where he lettered three years in a row (1992–94), earned first-team All-American honors from Walter Camp as a junior and was a two-time unanimous All-Big Ten Conference selection. Law was on the cover of the October 3rd, 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated, though it was an ignominious honor: he is the defender over whom Colorado Buffaloes receiver Michael Westbrook is leaping on the famous Miracle at Michigan play. Following his junior year, he left Michigan to enter the 1995 NFL Draft due to financial hardship after his grandfather declared bankruptcy.[2]

He finished his college career with 154 Tackles [120 Solo, 34 Assist], 6 INT, and 17 PD.[3]

Professional career

New England Patriots

Law was drafted 23rd overall in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots where he spent the majority of his career. In 1998 Law earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. That year he led the league with nine interceptions, the first time any Patriot had led the league in interceptions.

Law earned his first Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2001. In Super Bowl XXXVI, he intercepted a Kurt Warner pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, the first points of the game for the Patriots, who eventually won the game 20-17.

Law was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in his career after the 2003 season. In 2003, Law was part of a record-breaking Patriots defense that led the NFL in four key categories: opponents’ points per game (14.9), opponents’ passer rating (56.2), interceptions (29) and passing touchdowns surrendered (11). His physical play against some of the game's best receivers prompted the NFL to more strictly enforce the five-yard illegal contact rule on defensive backs after the 2003 season. In the AFC Championship Game against the Colts, Law intercepted 3 passes from Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, assisting his team to a 24-14 win and their second Super Bowl appearance in 3 years, where they defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29.

Law earned his third Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2004, but missed the final 9 games of the season and all three of the Patriots' playoff games due to a foot injury. Later in 2014 Ty Law was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

On February 25, 2005 Law was released by the Patriots due to his $12,551,000 cap salary.[4] Since then Law has represented the Patriots in a few games as an honorary team captain.

New York Jets

After a 9-year career with the New England Patriots, Law signed with the rival Jets for the 2005 season. He then went on to have one of his best years there, gaining a career-high 10 interceptions. Law was also the only Jet voted into the Pro Bowl (Jonathan Vilma was named to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement to Miami's Zach Thomas, not by means of popular vote by the fans). Law was released by the New York Jets on February 22, 2006 as the Jets were a projected $26 million over the salary cap for 2006.[5] Law was due to make $7.6 million for 2006.[6]

Kansas City Chiefs

Law (right) with former Chiefs teammate Patrick Surtain in 2007.

On July 25, 2006, Law passed his physical with the Chiefs and signed a five-year deal worth $30 million.[7] Law reunited with coach Herman Edwards, whom Law had played under in the 2005 season hoping to strengthen the Chiefs' defense.

Second stint with Jets

On November 10, 2008, Law agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New York Jets.[8] Following the end of season, the Jets once again released Law on February 24, 2009.

Denver Broncos

Law signed with the Denver Broncos on November 7, 2009.[9] This added to a defensive backfield that had 5 members over 30 years of age, with 20 Pro Bowl selections combined. His final game with the Broncos came January 3, 2010. He finished the season with 10 tackles, and 1 interception run back for 37 yards. He was released by the Broncos on February 24, 2010.

NFL stats

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR YDS INT YDS AVG LNG TD PD
1995 NE 14 47 40 7 1.0 0 0 0 3 47 16 38 3 9
1996 NE 13 62 56 6 0.0 0 0 0 3 45 15 38 1 9
1997 NE 16 77 69 8 0.5 0 1 0 3 70 23 40 0 11
1998 NE 16 70 60 10 0.0 0 1 0 9 133 15 59 1 32
1999 NE 13 57 48 9 0.5 2 1 0 2 20 10 27 1 9
2000 NE 15 74 58 16 0.0 0 0 0 2 32 16 32 0 11
2001 NE 16 69 59 10 1.0 0 0 0 3 91 30 46 2 9
2002 NE 16 76 59 17 1.0 1 1 0 4 33 8 29 0 10
2003 NE 15 73 60 13 0.0 0 0 0 6 112 19 65 1 23
2004 NE 7 28 23 5 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
2005 NYJ 16 62 45 17 0.0 0 0 0 10 195 20 74 1 18
2006 KC 16 68 64 4 1.0 3 0 0 4 11 3 16 0 9
2007 KC 16 47 39 8 0.0 0 0 0 2 2 1 2 0 13
2008 NYJ 7 19 14 5 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2009 DEN 7 10 9 1 0.0 0 0 0 1 37 37 37 0 1
Career 203 839 703 136 5.0 7 4 0 53 828 16 74 12 169

[10]

Key

Retirement

After retiring from the NFL, Law founded Launch Trampoline Park, a chain of entertainment facilities based around large areas of connected trampolines. Launch currently has franchised locations across New England, with one park open in Delaware.[11] The website of its Rhode Island location reports that Law makes frequent appearances there, where he participates in games of trampoline dodgeball with customers.[12]

On May 19, 2014, Law was announced as the 2014 Patriots Hall of Fame Inductee.[13] He was inducted on August 1.

References

  1. "Ty Law". Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. "ESPN.com - Page2 - Ty Law". espn.go.com. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  3. "Official Website of the New England Patriots". New England Patriots. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  4. ESPN.go.com, Accessed 27 December 2007.
  5. ESPN.go.com, Accessed 27 December 2007.
  6. Morningsun.net, Accessed 27 December 2007.
  7. "Law ready to secure Chiefs secondary", ESPN.go.com. Accessed 22 July 2007.
  8. Schefter, Adam (November 10, 2008), "Jets sign CB Law", NFL.com, archived from the original on October 9, 2010, retrieved October 9, 2010
  9. Schefter, Adam (2009-11-06). "Law, Broncos agree to contract". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  10. "Ty Law Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  11. "About Launch". Launch Corporation. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  12. "FAQs - Launch Warwick". Launchri.com. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  13. "Fans vote Ty Law as the 2014 Patriots Hall of Fame Inductee". New England Patriots. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Warren Moon (1997)
Pro Bowl MVP
shared w/ Keyshawn Johnson 1998
Succeeded by
Randy Moss (1999)
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