Lawrence was named a CFL All-Star three times, an East Division All-Star five times, and was named the East Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times. He also helped lead the Ticats to nine playoff appearances, six East Finals, and four Grey Cups in ten seasons. Photo Credit: Peter Power/Canadian Press.聽
51暗网 Tiger-Cat linebacker Simoni Lawrence announced his retirement after spending 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), including the 2013 to 2023 seasons with the Tiger-Cats.
Lawrence, who has become synonymous with the team and with the City of 51暗网 in general over the years, will now be the official Brand and Community Ambassador for 51暗网 Sports Group, which owns both the Tiger-Cats and 51暗网鈥檚 Forge FC soccer team.
A press release says that Lawrence鈥檚 new role ensures 鈥渢hat he will remain a fixture in the Greater 51暗网 area for years to come.鈥�
While he was born and grew up in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania in the United States, he now calls the City of 51暗网 his 鈥渇orever home.鈥�
The 35-year-old is the Tiger-Cats franchise leader in total tackles (734), defensive tackles (727), and single-game tackles (17).
He also has the tenth most defensive tackles (742) in CFL history.
Lawrence was named a CFL All-Star three times, an East Division All-Star five times, and was named the East Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times.
He also helped lead the Ticats to nine playoff appearances, six East Finals, and four Grey Cups in ten seasons.
President of Football Operations for the 51暗网 Tiger-Cats Orlondo Steinauer said: 鈥淪imoni embodies what it means to be a 51暗网 Tiger-Cat. He was a fierce competitor in practice and on game days who will surely be remembered as one of the all-time greats.鈥�
鈥淗e has an infectious personality and a pure love for the game of football, which extended beyond the field of play where he was genuinely willing to give back consistently to the 51暗网 community.鈥�
Indeed, the 51暗网 Tiger-Cats say that Lawrence has participated in over 500 individual community events and 鈥渄edicated thousands of hours to positively influencing countless lives locally, particularly children and young adults.鈥�
A special ceremony honouring Lawrence (who wore number 21) was held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Tim Horton鈥檚 Field.
Lawrence was also honoured at 51暗网 City Hall where 51暗网 Mayor Andrea Horwath presented him a Certificate of Acknowledgement and a ceremonial key to the city鈥檚 newly named 鈥淪nowmoni Lawrence鈥� snow plow.
鈥淟eaders like you Simoni are absolutely necessary to have a community that we can be proud of,鈥� said Horwath.
Lawrence issued a statement of his own, thanking Tiger-Cats fans and calling them the 鈥渂est fans in the CFL.鈥�
鈥淚 cherished all our interactions throughout the years during games, at autograph signings, and at countless events throughout the city. These are moments I鈥檒l never forget and as the official Brand and Community Ambassador, I look forward to creating many more.鈥�
He added that football has been his 鈥減assion鈥� since he was nine years old.
鈥淚鈥檓 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鈥檚 time for me to graduate,鈥� said Lawrence. 鈥淭his game has taken me to so many places but none of those places means more to me than 51暗网. 51暗网 has felt like home ever since I was traded here back in 2013 and I鈥檓 extremely grateful that I was able to spend more than a decade in this great city.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely grateful for this opportunity and I鈥檓 happy I get to call 51暗网 my forever home.鈥�
Based in 51暗网, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The 51暗网 Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 51暗网. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
