Lawrence Guy

BIOGRAPHY

Lawrence Thomas Guy, born March 17, 1990, is a distinguished American football defensive end, currently playing for Cincinnati Bengals, part of the reputed National Football League (NFL). His football career journey, that started with his college days at Arizona State Sun Devils, led him to be a seventh-round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Guy’s early years were a period of struggle as he had to battle conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. Despite these challenges, Guy made a name for himself at Western High School, Las Vegas, Nevada, where he achieved a remarkable record of 238 tackles (171 solo), 30.5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries over three seasons. This impressive performance made him the No. 13 defensive tackle prospect in the nation, as listed by Rivals.com, and finally led him to commit to the Sun Devils in 2007.

His college football career started auspiciously as he played all 12 games of the season, starting in the last eight. With his 44 tackles being the second-highest among Pac-10 defensive tackles of the season, he earned consensus All-Freshman honors, being named in teams like FWAA’s Freshman All-America and College Football News’ All-Freshman first-team.

In the professional realm, Guy was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL draft and spent the year on injured reserve. In spite of initially being left out in the 2012 season, he was re-signed to the practice squad and was soon picked by the Indianapolis Colts. Guy rapidly made his mark by recording 21 tackles and a sack in just 9 games.

In 2013, he signed with the San Diego Chargers, where he made an appearance in 10 games and secured 16 tackles. However, after participating in only three games in 2014, he was let go. He was swiftly claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens, excelling thoroughly in the 2015 season with 46 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

2017 was an eventful year for Guy as he inked a four-year, $20 million contract with the New England Patriots. As he consistently proved his worth, he helped the Patriots make it to the Super Bowl, even though they faced defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unfazed by the setback, he continued his streak of top-class performances in the 2018 season, aiding the Patriots to vanquish the Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl LIII.

Showing exceptional form in subsequent years, Guy recorded his first career interception and recovered a fumble in a game against Cleveland Browns. He continued his winning streak recovering fumbles off Carson Wentz and Mark Ingram II.

On March 30, 2021, in acknowledgement of his contributions, the Patriots extended his contract for another stretch of four years at $11.5 million. Remaining a reliable defender, he started in all 17 games, relentlessly accumulating 60 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

His journey with the Patriots came to an end in 2024, yet Guy remained undeterred. Cincinnati Bengals recognized his talent and promptly signed him on September 17, 2024. Throughout his enduring career, Guy was acknowledged as New England’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Not limited to football, he and his wife manage the Lawrence Guy Family Foundation.

Outside of his professional life, Guy had a significant lifestyle transformation in 2019 when he embraced veganism. Not only has he made his mark in NFL, but his journey also serves as an exemplary testament to personal growth, determination, and resilience.