NFL great Lawrence Taylor recalls stern warning he gave Joe Montana during testy confrontation
Lawrence Taylor, a legendary NFL player known for his hard hits on the field, recently shared a story from his playing days about facing off against Joe Montana. Taylor, now 66 years old, recalled a moment where he was chasing down Montana, only for the quarterback to trick him and gain extra yardage.
“I remember playing Joe Montana, and I was chasing him down. He came out, he chased out, he’s running to the out of bounds. And just before he stepped out of bounds, I just let up, you know. That son of a – he took that ball and ran down another 15 yards, right?” Taylor said during an appearance on OutKick’s “The Ricky Cobb Show.”
Frustrated by Montana’s deception, Taylor issued a stern warning to the four-time Super Bowl champion. “And I went over to him, and I said, ‘Listen, hey, let me tell you something. If you ever do that again, I will light you up.’ And he apologized, and he said, ‘Man, I understand.’”
Taylor, considered by many to be the greatest defensive player of all time, sympathized with today’s defenders who have to navigate the rules while trying to contain running quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes.
“Nowadays, you can’t even touch them when they hit the ground. But then what happens when you’re playing a guy like Mahomes, who does his fake going to go down, and then he takes and runs off. I mean, what happens? Let’s get some fairness in this,” Taylor remarked.
If Taylor were still playing today, he would likely issue Mahomes a similar warning to the one he gave Montana. Taylor’s sentiments were echoed by Tom Brady, who also questioned the rules surrounding quarterbacks who scramble during a recent appearance on FOX Sports’ “The Herd.”
Brady expressed his belief that quarterbacks who act as running backs should lose their protection when they leave the pocket. He argued that while the league aims to protect quarterbacks, the increase in designed quarterback runs puts them at risk.
The debate over quarterback protection resurfaced during the AFC Divisional round between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. Mahomes was the beneficiary of a roughing-the-passer penalty and a controversial unnecessary roughness call, prompting further discussion on the issue.
As the Chiefs prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, officiating decisions regarding quarterbacks like Mahomes will be closely scrutinized. The game, airing on FOX at 6:30 p.m. ET, will feature comprehensive coverage starting at 1 p.m. ET on Tubi for the first time.
In conclusion, Lawrence Taylor’s warning to Joe Montana serves as a reminder of the physicality and intensity of the NFL. As the league continues to evolve, discussions around quarterback protection and fair play will remain at the forefront of the sport.
