Washington Commanders

Lawrence Taylor jokes that he helped Joe Theismann by breaking his leg

Published Jun. 16, 2016 9:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

More than 30 years after being involved in one of the most infamous plays in NFL history, Lawrence Taylor is making light of the outcome.

The New York Giants icon discussed his famous tackle of Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann at a luncheon this week and said he "did him a favor" by ending his career.

"I did him a favor," Taylor said, via USA Today, of his hit in 1985 that left Theismann on the ground with a broken leg. "That man was on his way out of football a long time before that. Listen, that was going to be his last year. He wasn't playing very well. I did him a favor."

Theismann was struggling through his 12th year, throwing eight touchdowns and 16 interceptions when his career suddenly came to end.

Taylor said Theismann was screaming "like a little girl" after he suffered two fractured bones in his right leg. Taylor added that Theismann said "LT, I'll be back."

"And I said, 'Yeah, Joe, but not tonight.'"

Theismann never played another down.