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.
Hamilton 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 Hamilton in general over the years, will now be the official Brand and Community Ambassador for Hamilton Sports Group, which owns both the Tiger-Cats and Hamilton’s Forge FC soccer team.
A press release says that Lawrence’s new role ensures “that he will remain a fixture in the Greater Hamilton area for years to come.”
While he was born and grew up in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania in the United States, he now calls the City of Hamilton his “forever home.”
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 Hamilton Tiger-Cats Orlondo Steinauer said: “Simoni embodies what it means to be a Hamilton 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.”
“He 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 Hamilton community.”
Indeed, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats say that Lawrence has participated in over 500 individual community events and “dedicated thousands of hours to positively influencing countless lives locally, particularly children and young adults.”
A special ceremony honouring Lawrence (who wore number 21) was held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Tim Horton’s Field.
Lawrence was also honoured at Hamilton City Hall where Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath presented him a Certificate of Acknowledgement and a ceremonial key to the city’s newly named “Snowmoni Lawrence” snow plow.
“Leaders like you Simoni are absolutely necessary to have a community that we can be proud of,” said Horwath.
Lawrence issued a statement of his own, thanking Tiger-Cats fans and calling them the “best fans in the CFL.”
“I cherished all our interactions throughout the years during games, at autograph signings, and at countless events throughout the city. These are moments I’ll never forget and as the official Brand and Community Ambassador, I look forward to creating many more.”
He added that football has been his “passion” since he was nine years old.
“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,” said Lawrence. “This game has taken me to so many places but none of those places means more to me than Hamilton. 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.”
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and I’m happy I get to call Hamilton my forever home.”
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. 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.
