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 played most of his career for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Simoni was a three-time winner of the James P. McCaffrey Trophy. He was also named a CFL All-Star three times. He holds the record for the most tackles in a single game in the CFL. He is also the all-time leader in tackles for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats team.
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Simoni Lawrence: A Football Journey
Simoni Lawrence played football in college before becoming a professional. He attended the University of Minnesota. There, he played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
Early Professional Career
After college, Simoni started his professional football journey. He first signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2010. Later that year, he played for the Hartford Colonials in the United Football League (UFL). He also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears. In 2011, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL.
Joining the CFL: Edmonton Eskimos
In 2012, Simoni Lawrence moved to Canada. He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He played in 15 games for the Eskimos. During this season, he made 15 tackles and 11 special teams tackles. He also recovered one fumble.
Becoming a Hamilton Tiger-Cat Legend
Simoni Lawrence was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2013. This move marked the start of his most successful years.
First Stint with the Tiger-Cats
In his first season with the Ti-Cats, Simoni quickly made a big impact. He had 53 tackles, three special teams tackles, and one quarterback sack. He also made three interceptions.
Brief NFL Return
In 2014, Simoni signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. However, he was released a few months later.
Second Stint and Major Success
Simoni returned to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in June 2014. He signed a three-year contract.
- 2014 Season: He played in 16 regular season games. He also played in both playoff games. The Ti-Cats reached the Grey Cup championship game. Simoni led his team with 78 tackles. He also had 3 sacks and 2 interceptions.
- 2015 Season: Simoni continued his excellent play. He recorded 78 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. His strong performance earned him a spot as a CFL All-Star.
- 2016 Season: He set a new personal best with 89 tackles. He also added 4 sacks and scored a touchdown from an interception.
- 2019 Season: Simoni signed a new contract with the Tiger-Cats. He faced some penalties for rough play 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. He also had three interceptions and four sacks. For his amazing season, he was named the East Division's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He was also named a CFL All-Star again.
- 2020 Season: The CFL season was canceled due to the pandemic. Simoni did not play.
- 2021 Season: He signed another contract extension. In a shorter season, he played all 14 games. He had 73 defensive tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions. He was named a CFL All-Star and the East Division's Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the third time. In the 108th Grey Cup, he had six tackles. However, the Tiger-Cats lost the game.
- 2022 Season: Simoni played in nine games due to an injury. He still made 41 defensive tackles.
- 2023 Season: He played in all 18 regular season games. He recorded 84 defensive tackles, five sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles.
Retirement
Simoni Lawrence announced his retirement from football on February 15, 2024. He left the game as a true legend for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
