Meet Lawrence Taylor’s First Wife Deborah Belinda, His Childhood Sweetheart Amid His Hospitalisation

Lawrence Taylor, who is widely known as one of the best NFL players is currently dominating the headlines after he was hospitalised following a medical emergency. While not much details about his health have been revealed, his hospitalisation has concerned a lot of his fans. Well, for the unversed, Lawrence is a two-time Super Bowl champion who spent a major amount of time as the linebacker of New York Giants. In 1999, he was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Apart from his NFL journey, Lawrence’s personal life also grabbed a lot of attention. It is worth mentioning that in the past few decades, Lawrence Taylor had been married thrice. His first marriage was with Deborah; however, they parted ways after 15 years. Later, he tied the knot with Maritza Cruz and in 2007, he got married to Lynette Taylor. Amid the hospitalisation of the NFL player, if you too are curious to know about his first wife, we’ve got you covered!

Who is Lawrence Taylor’s first wife, Deborah Belinda?

Deborah Belinda Taylor was the first wife of NFL star, Lawrence Taylor. While there is not much available about Deborah and her personal life, a report by Nflradar reveals that her real name is Linda Cooley. According to the same report, Deborah was born to parents, Marva Cooley and Willis Cooley. 

Deborah Belinda Taylor’s parents were very fond of Lawrence Taylor

Source: Nflradar

Reportedly, Deborah’s parents were very fond of the NFL star, Lawrence. They described him as a sweet and kind person and also stated that they will ‘never stop loving him’. Willis Cooley once shared that even though his daughter has parted ways with Lawrence, he will still be ‘grandparents’ of all his children. It is worth mentioning that Lawrence and Deborah share three children together.

Deborah Belinda and Lawrence Taylor were childhood sweethearts

Source: Nflradar

According to a report by Nflradar, Lawrence and Deborah first met during their school years. Reportedly, they both attended Lafayette High School. Once, Deborah mentioned that when she first saw Lawrence, she did not like the NFL player. She felt ‘he was a bully.’ However, slowly and gradually, when Deborah saw the sweet and kind side of him, she fell in love with him.

Source: Nflradar

After staying as friends for a few years, Deborah and Lawrence tied the knot in 1981. According to a report by Inbizdaily.com, the ex-couple stayed in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Reportedly, in the mid-1980s, the former NFL player suffered from addiction; however, it was his then-wife, who stood by him and he went to rehab in 1986. Throughout their marriage, they welcomed three children, TJ, Tanisha and Paula.

Deborah Belinda filed for divorce from Lawrence Taylor

After eight years of marriage, Deborah Belinda filed for divorce in 1989, due to Lawrence Taylor’s alcohol addiction. At that time, Deborah revealed that Lawrence was ‘extremely rude’ with her and he also showed up drunk when she was giving birth to their third child. If reports are to be believed, their divorce was finalised in 1996. According to a report by Nflradar, Deborah Belinda once was quoted as saying:

“Throughout his troubled times as a result of the drinking and drug problems, I was there when he needed me and tried my best to get him to get the help he needed. The defendant, however, never really appreciated the efforts I made in trying to straighten out his life.”

If reports are to be believed, after their divorce was finalised, Lawrence had to pay her a huge amount and a fair share of his property. Reportedly, the NFL star paid her around USD 50,000 per year. Deborah also received half of Lawrence’s property and financial property. After the divorce, Deborah chose to lead a private life away from the media with her three children. It is worth noting that there is no information about Deborah’s second marriage or their three children.

Did Lawrence Taylor cheat on Deborah Belinda?

Apart from sharing that she was disappointed with Lawrence’s alcohol addiction and rude behaviour, Deborah had also suggested that the NFL legend had cheated on her. While she did not reveal much details, reports claim that Deborah stated that she had once seen Lawrence hanging out with another woman at a restaurant when she was on a dinner with her family. It is worth mentioning that over the years, Lawrence has been charged with sexual assault cases around 2 to 3 times.

Lawrence Taylor is admitted in hospital following a medical emergency

Lawrence Taylor, the legendary former NFL star who played for New York Giants, is currently in the hospital after a medical emergency. Reportedly, the 67-years-old player was rushed to the hospital. Initially, he was taken to the emergency room; however, he was later shifted to another room for observation. It is worth noting that the details behind the medical emergency have not been revealed. According to a recent report by NY Daily News, one of Lawrence’s close friends shared:

“He’s dealing with some abdominal issues, but he’s going to be fine.”

What are your thoughts on Lawrence Taylor’s first wife, Deborah Belinda amid his hospitalisation? Let us know.

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