Ty Law

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Law attended Aliquippa High School in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, where he played football and basketball, and ran track. He played football as a cornerback, safety, wide receiver, and running back. He was named MVP of the school's basketball team. In 1991, he led Aliquippa to victory in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association A-level high school football championship. Tony Dorsett, a Hall of Fame running back, is Law's uncle. Law spent summers in Dallas with Dorsett while he was growing up. He had a three-year stint at the University of Michigan, where he lettered three years in a row (1992–94), earned first-team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation as a junior, and was a two-time unanimous All-Big Ten Conference selection. He was on the cover of the October 3, 1994, issue of Sports Illustrated, though it was an ignominious honor; he is the defender over whom Colorado Buffaloes receiver Michael Westbrook is leaping on the famous Miracle at Michigan play. Following his junior year, he left Michigan to enter the 1995 NFL Draft due to financial hardship after his grandfather declared bankruptcy. He finished his college career with 154 tackles (120 solo, 34 assist), six interceptions, and 17 passes defended.

In Their Own Story

The Patriots selected Law 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft, making him the second cornerback taken behind Tyrone Poole. Despite draft experts grading Bobby Taylor higher, the Patriots viewed Law as their top defensive back. After signing a five-year, $5.50 million contract on July 20, 1995, he began his rookie season as a backup to Ricky Reynolds and Maurice Hurst. Following Hurst's release in November due to poor performance against Jim Harbaugh, Law took over the starting role for the final five games. He immediately made an impact, recording his first career interception against Jim Kelly on November 26, 1995, and adding two more interceptions that month, including a 38-yard return off Jim Everett. By 1998, Law led the NFL with eight interceptions, returning one for a 59-yard touchdown against Peyton Manning. His tenure included three Super Bowl wins (XXXI, XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX), though he lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXI before winning the next two. He finished his New England career holding the franchise interception record and earning four Pro Bowl nods.

Reader's Guide

As a junior, Law wrote a letter to the NFL Draft Advisory Board of his interest in declaring for the 1995 NFL Draft and was told in their reply letter they projected him to be selected anywhere from the fourth to seventh round. He attended a pre-draft visit with the New England Patriots. The Patriots had Law as their highest graded defensive back on their draft board, ahead of Bobby Taylor. The Patriots selected Law in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1995 NFL draft. He was the second cornerback selected, following Tyrone Poole, and was the second of three Michigan players selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, along with Tyrone Wheatley and Trezelle Jenkins. On July 20, 1995, the Patriots signed Law to a five-year, $5.50 million contract. He made his professional regular-season debut on September 3, 1995, against the Cleveland Browns. He earned his first career start on October 1, 1995. He missed two games (Weeks 8–9) due to a hip flexor injury. After the Patriots cut starting cornerback Maurice Hurst, head coach Bill Parcells named Law his replacement at starting cornerback for the last five games of the season. He finished his rookie season with 47 combined tackles (40 solo), nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and one sack in 14 games and seven starts. In 1996, Law and Ricky Reynolds were named starting cornerbacks. He finished his sophomore season with 62 combined tackles (56 solo), nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and one touchdown in 13 games and 12 starts. He started in Super Bowl XXXI. In 1997, he started in all 16 games for the first time in his career and made 77 combined tackles (69 solo), 11 pass deflections, three interceptions, and was credited with half a sack. The source does not provide full details for 1998 or 2005, but it states he twice led the league in interceptions during the 1998 and 2005 seasons. His 2005 season was with the New York Jets, not the Denver Broncos.

Did You Know?

• Law led the league in interceptions in 1998 and 2005.
• He holds the New England Patriots franchise record for interceptions.
• Law is the nephew of Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett.
• He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated after the Miracle at Michigan play.