Background and career
Tajuan Edward "Ty" Law (born February 10, 1974) is an American former professional football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, earning first-team All-American honors, and was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. During his 10 seasons in New England, Law received four Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. A three-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots, he also holds the franchise record for interceptions. Law spent his final five seasons as a member of the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos, earning a fifth Pro Bowl selection with the Jets. Ranking 24th in NFL career interceptions, he twice led the league in interceptions during the 1998 and 2005 seasons. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Law attended Aliquippa High School in Aliquippa, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he played football and basketball, and ran track. He played in 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.
Law 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.
As a junior, Law wrote of 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 would have Law as their highest graded defensive back on their draft board, ahead of Bobby Taylor, who was graded ahead of Law by the majority of draft experts.
The New England Patriots selected Law in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1995 NFL draft. He was the second cornerback selected, following Tyrone Poole (22nd overall), and was the second of three Michigan players selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, along with Tyrone Wheatley (17th overall) and Trezelle Jenkins (31st overall).
On July 20, 1995, the New England Patriots signed Law to a five-year, $5.50 million contract. Throughout training camp, Law competed against Maurice Hurst for the role as the No. 2 starting cornerback. Head coach Bill Parcells named Law a backup and listed him as the third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind starters Ricky Reynolds and Maurice Hurst. On September 3, 1995, Law made his professional regular-season debut in the New England Patriots’ season-opener against the Cleveland Browns, ironically against Bill Belichick, and recorded two solo tackles in their 17–14 victory. On October 1, 1995, Law earned his first career start, appearing as a dimeback, and recorded four combined tackles (three solo) and set a season-high with two pass deflections during a 30–17 loss at the Atlanta Falcons. He missed two games (Weeks 8–9) due a hip flexor injury. On November 20, 1995, the Patriots cut starting cornerback Maurice Hurst after a poor performance in a 10–24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, during which Hurst gave up two 40-yard passes from Jim Harbaugh to wide receiver Sean Dawkins. Head coach Bill Parcells subsequently named Law his replacement at starting cornerback for the last five games (Weeks 13–17) of the season. On November 26, 1995, Law earned his first start as a starting cornerback and had six combined tackles (four solo), one pass deflection, and had his first career interception on a pass thrown by Jim Kelly to wide receiver Justin Armour during a 35–25 victory at the Buffalo Bills. The following week, Law made three combined tackles (two solo), a pass break-up, and intercepted a pass by Jim Everett to wide receiver Quinn Early and returned it for a season-long 38 yards as the Patriots lost 31–17 to the New Orleans Saints in Week 14. In Week 15, he set a season-high with eight combined tackles (six solo), made one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass attempt by Jets’ quarterback Boomer Esiason during a 31–28 win against the New York Jets. He made an interception in three consecutive games since taking over the starting role. On December 23, 1995, Law set a season-high with eight solo tackles and made his first career sack on Jim Harbaugh for a six–yard loss during the first quarter of a 10–7 loss at the Indianapolis Colts. He finished his rookie season in 1995 with 47 combined tackles (40 solo), nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and one sack in 14 games and seven starts.
