After 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013, ‘14-23) and Edmonton (2012), one of the league’s all-time great linebackers, Simoni Lawrence, announced his retirement today.
The 35-year-old is the Tiger-Cats franchise leader in multiple categories, including total tackles (734), defensive tackles (727) and single-game tackles (17), while his 742 career defensive tackles rank 10th in CFL history. Lawrence is a three-time CFL All-Star (2015, ’19, ’21), a five-time CFL East Division All-Star (2014-16, ’19, ’21) and was named the east division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times (2015, ’19, ’21).
“Simoni embodies what it means to be a Hamilton Tiger-Cat. He was a fierce competitor in practice and on game days who will surely be remembered as one of the all-time greats.” Said Orlondo Steinauer, President of Football Operations of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“He has an infectious personality and a pure love for the game of football, which extended beyond the field of play where he was genuinely willing to give back consistently to the Hamilton community. It was an honour to see Simoni grow as a person and to see his relentless drive and hard work pay off as he achieved amazing things for over a decade. Congratulations, Simoni, on your Hall of Fame career.”
The Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, native suited up in 169 games over his CFL career, including 154 with the Tiger-Cats, posting 760 total tackles, including 742 defensive tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 35 quarterback sacks, 36 pass knockdowns, 15 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. Over his 10 seasons in Hamilton, Lawrence helped lead the Ticats to nine playoff appearances playing a total of 13 playoff games including six East Finals and four Grey Cups.
STATEMENT FROM SIMONI LAWRENCE
In addition to his legendary accomplishments on the field, Lawrence also made incredible contributions outside of the lines. Renowned as Hamilton’s most committed community ambassador, Lawrence participated in over 500 individual community events and dedicated thousands of hours to positively influencing countless lives locally, particularly children and young adults. Simoni’s enduring commitment to community service continues, as he steps into his newly appointed role of the official Brand & Community Ambassador for Hamilton Sports Group, ensuring he will remain a fixture in the Greater Hamilton area for years to come.
Fans will have the opportunity to join Simoni Lawrence at “The Graduation”, a special event celebrating his career on the evening of Wednesday, February 21 at Tim Hortons Field. Fans can secure their tickets by making a $21 donation to Food4Kids Hamilton via this link. More details about the event will be announced in the coming days.