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Ohio State Football: Interview with LB James Laurinaitis

By Steven Koesterman

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 03: James Laurinaitis #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets ready on the field during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on November 3, 2007 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 38-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 03: James Laurinaitis #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes gets ready on the field during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers on November 3, 2007 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Wisconsin 38-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – AUGUST 30: James Laurinaitis #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes brings down Dana Brown #21 of the Youngstown State Penguins in the first half on August 30, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – AUGUST 30: James Laurinaitis #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes brings down Dana Brown #21 of the Youngstown State Penguins in the first half on August 30, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

The Ohio State football program has always been known for great linebackers and James Laurinaitis was one of the best. The great LB was shared experiences during his playing days and life after football.

James Laurinaitis is one of the most decorated linebackers ever to play Ohio State football. Over his four year college career, the two-time team captain was a three-time consensus All-American who led the Buckeyes to an unbeaten record vs. Michigan (4-0), four Big Ten championship teams and two National Championship appearances.

He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year twice, which makes him one of only three players in the history of the conference to achieve that honor. As a sophomore, James won the Bronko Nagurski Award, recognizing the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.

He won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker as a junior. In his final year for the Buckeyes, James captured the Lott IMPACT Trophy which acknowledges college football’s defensive best in character and performance.

Leading the team in tackles as a sophomore, junior and senior, Laurinaitis finished his Buckeye career with 375 total tackles.

In the 2009 NFL Draft, Laurinaitis was drafted 35th overall by the St. Louis Rams. After seven seasons with the Rams, having not missed a start, he became the Rams’ all-time leading tackler with 654 tackles.

After a brief stint with the New Orleans Saints in 2016, he retired after an eight year career in the NFL in which he registered 663 tackles, 16.5 sacks and 10 interceptions. Since his retirement, James has found himself in broadcasting and radio for the Big Ten Network/Fox, 97.1 The Fan and Sirius XM Radio.

Hope you enjoy my conversation with James as we talk about a number of topics from his playing days at Ohio State and in the NFL, and the keys to his success on and off the field:

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