The Hamilton Tigers Cats greatest player, who was previously retired, has just declared his return to the team, and the team is…

Simoni Lawrence may be done playing football, but Hamilton will always have him in it.

On Thursday, the standout linebacker made his CFL retirement known. Lawrence, 35, played for 11 seasons in Canada; he began his career with Edmonton and spent the final ten with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Nonetheless, the gregarious Lawrence is not leaving. He will represent Hamilton Sports Group, the owner of the Ticats and soccer’s Forge FC, as a brand and community ambassador.
A linebacker for the Ticats outperforms a pop star and a Sith Dark Lord in Hamilton’s yearly snow-plow naming competition.
“Hamilton has always felt like home since I got here in 2013,” said Lawrence. “Especially up here in Canada, stability is hard to come by in football.

“Hamilton, you have my sincere gratitude for allowing me to remain in one place.”location for ten years… I’m incredibly grateful to Hamilton for allowing me to call this place my forever home.”

According to Lawrence, the choice to retire was not made lightly.

“You think about it and you’re like, ‘I can keep going, I’ve got some more in me,” ‘ he stated. However, as I frequently mention, I live in a world where I just follow logic.

“The position and offer I got from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats off the field is good for myself and my family.”

Lawrence claimed that Hamilton’s striking resemblance to his hometown was a major factor in why he blended in so well.

“Upper Darby, Pa., is very similar to Hamilton, the people are very similar,” he stated. “Do you guys ever go on?”If you take a vacation to Upper Darby, you will undoubtedly feel at home and as though you have visited Hamilton.

Wednesday is the retirement celebration at Tim Hortons Field.
For an extended period, Lawrence was recognized as the leading CFL trash talker, even though he never denied it. Six feet one inch and 231 pounds, Lawrence was a huge fan favorite in Hamilton because of his on-field tenacity and his gregarious, fun-loving personality off it.

Lawrence will have no trouble acclimating to his new position. As a player for the Ticats, he contributed thousands of hours to charitable causes across the city and took part in over 500 community events.

Hamilton supporters related to and respected Lawrence more than any other Ticats player since the late Angelo Mosca, who passed away in 2021.

“The thing about Hamilton is As a player, they’ve been incredibly devoted to me,” Lawrence remarked. “Scott Mitchell, the CEO of Ticats, told me during our conversation that this wasn’t something that was meant to be a handout. Everything that you’re going to get is something you deserve.

“That just made me feel good as a human being and ready for the next challenge.”

Veteran linebacker Lawrence of the CFL is having a strong 2023 season.
On Wednesday at Tim Hortons Field, Lawrence’s retirement party will be attended by Ticats supporters. Lawrence wore jersey number 21, so you can get tickets by donating $21 to Food4Kids Hamilton.

After stints in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Tampa Bay, Lawrence’s CFL career started off unlucky in 2012 with Edmonton. He made 15 appearances during the regular season, one of which he started.