Simoni Lawrence facts for kids
Lawrence with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023
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| Born: | February 1, 1989 Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 231 lb (105 kg) |
| College | Minnesota |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2010 | St. Louis Rams* |
| 2010 | Philadelphia Eagles* |
| 2010 | Hartford Colonials |
| 2010 | Chicago Bears* |
| 2010–2011 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers* |
| 2011 | Las Vegas Locomotives |
| 2012 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| 2013 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2014 | Minnesota Vikings* |
| 2014–2023 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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James P. McCaffrey Trophy - 2015, 2019, 2021
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| CFL All-Star | 2015, 2019, 2021 |
| CFL East All-Star | 2014–2016, 2019, 2021 |
| Career stats | |
| Games played | 169 |
| Total tackles | 760 |
| Sacks | 35 |
| Interceptions | 15 |
| Forced fumbles | 13 |
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Simoni Lawrence (born February 1, 1989) is an American former professional football player. He was a talented linebacker who mostly played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won the James P. McCaffrey Trophy three times. He was also named a CFL All-Star three times. Simoni Lawrence holds the record for the most defensive tackles in a single CFL game with 17. He is also the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' all-time leader in total tackles. He announced his retirement from football in February 2024.
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College Football Career
Simoni Lawrence played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He showed great skill during his time there.
Professional Football Journey
Simoni Lawrence started his professional football journey in 2010. He played for several teams in different leagues before finding his home in the CFL.
Early Teams in the NFL and UFL
After college, Lawrence signed with the St. Louis Rams in April 2010. However, he was released a month later. He was then drafted by the Hartford Colonials in the United Football League (UFL). He also signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but later joined the Colonials, playing in eight games.
After the UFL season, he spent some time with the Chicago Bears practice team. He then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their training camp in 2011. Later in 2011, he played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL.
Joining the CFL: Edmonton Eskimos
In January 2012, Simoni Lawrence signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He played in 15 games for them. During this season, he made 15 tackles and 11 special teams tackles. He also recovered one fumble.
First Time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
In February 2013, Lawrence was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He quickly became an important player for the team. In his first season with the Tiger-Cats, he made 53 tackles. He also had three special teams tackles, one quarterback sack, and three interceptions.
Brief Stint with Minnesota Vikings
In February 2014, Lawrence signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. However, he was released a few months later in May 2014.
Return to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Simoni Lawrence returned to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in June 2014. He signed a three-year contract.
Key Seasons and Achievements
- 2014 Season: Lawrence played in 16 regular season games. He helped the Tiger-Cats reach the Grey Cup championship game. He led the team with 78 tackles. He also had 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
- 2015 Season: He continued his strong performance with 78 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. His excellent play earned him a spot as a CFL All-Star.
- 2016 Season: Lawrence set a new personal best with 89 tackles. He also had 4 sacks and scored a touchdown with an interception.
- 2019 Season: This was a standout year for Lawrence. He signed a new contract with the Tiger-Cats. He faced some penalties for certain plays during the season. However, he also set a new CFL record for defensive tackles in a single game with 17. He led the league with 98 defensive tackles for the season. He also had three interceptions and four sacks. For his amazing performance, he was named the East Division's Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a CFL All-Star.
Later Seasons and Retirement
The 2020 CFL season was canceled, so Lawrence did not play that year. In January 2021, he signed another contract extension with the Tiger-Cats.
- 2021 Season: In a shorter season, he played in all 14 games. He recorded 73 defensive tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions. He was again named a CFL All-Star and the East Division's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He played in the 108th Grey Cup but his team lost.
- 2022 Season: Lawrence missed half of this season due to an injury. He played in nine games and made 41 defensive tackles.
- 2023 Season: He played in all 18 regular season games. He had 84 defensive tackles, five sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles.
Simoni Lawrence became a free agent in February 2024. He officially announced his retirement from professional football on February 15, 2024. He left a lasting mark on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the CFL.
