Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence announced his retirement on Wednesday after an 11-year CFL career with the Ticats and Edmonton Eskimos. Lawrence will become a Brand and Community Ambassador for the Ticats.
“Football has been my passion since I was nine years old and I’m extremely grateful that I was given this gift from God to be able to play for as many years as I did but now it’s time for me to graduate. This game has taken me to so many places but none of those places mean more to me than Hamilton,” said Lawrence.
“Hamilton has felt like home ever since I was traded here back in 2013 and I’m extremely grateful that I was able to spend more than a decade in this great city. Only we truly know what we mean to each other, and I’ve always felt when you support Simoni Lawrence, you support the city of Hamilton and the Tiger-Cats.”
Simoni Lawrence is six foot one and weighs 231 pounds. The 35-year-old from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, made 83 tackles, five sacks, and one interception in 18 games for the Ticats in 2023.
Before Hamilton, Lawrence signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Then, the Hartford Colonials (UFL) drafted him in 2010. He made 48 tackles (35 solo, 13 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in eight games. In addition, he has stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Locomotives (UFL), and the Minnesota Vikings. In Las Vegas, Lawrence made three tackles (3 assists) in two games.
In 2012, Lawrence signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played one season in Edmonton with 26 tackles (15 solo, 11 assists) and one fumble recovery in 15 games. Then, the Eskimos traded Lawrence to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on February 5, 2013. In ten seasons in Hamilton, Lawrence has 725 tackles, 18 tackles on special teams, 30 sacks, 14 interceptions, three touchdowns, ten forced fumbles, and one punt return for 10 yards in 153 games.
Lawrence is a three-time James P. McCaffrey Trophy winner (2015, 2019, 2021), a five-time CFL East All-Star (2014-16, 2019, 2021), and a three-time CFL All-Star (2015, 2019, 2021).
Collegiately, Lawrence played two seasons at Valley Forge Military Academy before transferring to Minnesota in 2008. He played two seasons in Minnesota (2008-09) with 151 tackles (101 solo, 50 assists), 18.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two touchdowns in 26 games for the Golden Gophers.
