Lawrence Timmons

Lawrence Olajuwon Timmons was born on May 14, 1986, in Florence, South Carolina. He attended Wilson High School, where he excelled in both football and track and field. A highly recruited athlete, Timmons played tight end on offense and linebacker on defense, recording over 150 tackles and two sacks, along with 47 catches for over 800 yards and five touchdowns in his senior year. He continued his football career at Florida State University, playing for the Florida State Seminoles. After a collegiate career with 126 tackles and eight sacks, earning third-team All-American and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors, Timmons declared for the NFL Draft.

Timmons was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round as the 15th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, marking Mike Tomlin’s first draft pick as head coach. He quickly became a key player for the Steelers, contributing to their Super Bowl XLIII victory in 2009. Throughout his tenure with the Steelers from 2007 to 2016, Timmons was known for his consistent performance as an inside linebacker. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2014 and was named Second-team All-Pro the same year. He led the team in tackles in multiple seasons, demonstrating his defensive prowess on the field.

In 2017, Timmons signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. He played one season with the Dolphins before being released in March 2018. Over his 11-year NFL career, Timmons played in 172 games, accumulated 1,067 total tackles, 35.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and 12 interceptions, including one defensive touchdown. His career highlights include a Super Bowl championship with the Steelers and consistent high-level play.