Shaq Lawson Bio
Shaquille Lawson is an American professional football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Born on June 17, 1994, in Central, South Carolina, he played college football for the Clemson Tigers before being selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Across his professional career, Lawson has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers. At Clemson, he earned Consensus All-American and First-team All-ACC honors in 2015.
Early Life and Background
Shaquille Olajuwan Lawson, named after basketball players Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, attended D. W. Daniel High School in Central, South Carolina. As a senior, he recorded 99 tackles and nine sacks, followed by 100 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior. Lawson was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit.
He committed to Clemson University to play college football. Before enrolling at Clemson, Lawson attended Hargrave Military Academy for a year to further his preparation.
Lawson’s father was killed in a car accident during his junior year of high school. Following that loss, Lawson chose to attend Clemson to remain close to his family.
Path to Professional Football
Lawson joined the Clemson Tigers in 2013 and quickly contributed as a first-year freshman. He played in all 13 games and posted 35 tackles with four sacks. Those four sacks tied William Perry and Ricky Sapp for the most by a first-year freshman in Clemson history at the time, a mark later surpassed by Dexter Lawrence in 2016.
As a sophomore in 2014, Lawson again appeared in all 13 games, making one start, and finished with 44 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He became a full-time starter during his junior year in 2015, the season in which he earned Consensus All-American and First-team All-ACC recognition.
His strong college production led to Lawson being selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, launching his professional career.
Shaq Lawson Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
The Buffalo Bills signed Shaquille Lawson to a four-year, $10.27 million contract that included $9.82 million guaranteed and a $5.67 million signing bonus. After undergoing shoulder surgery in May 2016, he began his rookie season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list before being activated on October 21, 2016. Lawson recorded his first NFL sack against the New England Patriots in Week 8 of that season.
In 2017, Lawson started 10 of 11 games played, registering 33 tackles and four sacks. An ankle injury in Week 13 ended his season, and he was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2017.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Lawson opened the 2018 season as a backup to free-agent signing Trent Murphy but still saw significant snaps as the Bills rotated their defensive personnel. He started several games when Murphy was sidelined and posted seven tackles in a Week 9 loss to the Chicago Bears. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, Lawson was involved in a fistfight with running back Leonard Fournette during a third-quarter brawl, resulting in both players being ejected; Lawson received a $33,425 fine, while Fournette was suspended one game. Lawson later said he was defending himself and his teammates.
He closed 2018 with 30 combined tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and six passes defended, including his first career multi-sack game in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins. In 2019, the Bills declined the fifth-year option on his contract. He finished the season with a career-high 6.5 sacks, including two sacks on Brandon Allen in Week 12 after Broncos lineman Connor McGovern told Lawson he had “never heard of him.”
Miami Dolphins Era (2020)
On March 21, 2020, Shaquille Lawson signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on August 6, 2020, and activated the following day. In Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, Lawson recorded his first sack as a Dolphin on Russell Wilson during a 31–23 loss. In Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals, he recovered a fumble forced by teammate Emmanuel Ogbah on Kyler Murray and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown in a 34–31 victory.
Houston Texans and New York Jets Era (2021)
On March 17, 2021, Lawson and a 2021 sixth-round pick were traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for Benardrick McKinney and a 2021 seventh-round pick. On August 29, 2021, the New York Jets traded a 2022 sixth-round pick to the Texans for Lawson. He finished the 2021 season with 23 tackles and one sack across 14 games and seven starts before being released on January 8, 2022.
Buffalo Bills Second Stint (2022–2023)
On March 18, 2022, Lawson signed a one-year deal with the Bills, returning to the franchise he had publicly expressed a desire to rejoin. During the 2022–23 season, he played in 15 games and recorded 31 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. In end-of-season interviews on January 23, 2023, Lawson said one of his former teams had told him to “be seen and not heard” and credited his return to Buffalo with helping his mental state.
He re-signed with the Bills on April 18, 2023, and continued contributing to the defensive line.
Carolina Panthers and Return to Buffalo (2024–2025)
On October 9, 2024, Shaquille Lawson was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for one game against the Washington Commanders before being released on October 22, 2024. On November 25, 2025, after a workout with the team the day prior, Lawson was signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad, marking his third stint with the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lawson is a power-based edge rusher who has shown the ability to set the edge against the run while contributing as a pass rusher. His production has often spiked in games where he faces direct run-blocking responsibilities, and he has produced multi-sack performances when matched up one-on-one. Throughout his career, he has been deployed in rotation, allowing him to maintain fresh legs on passing downs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lawson’s first NFL sack came against the New England Patriots in Week 8 of the 2016 season. He set a career high with 6.5 sacks in 2019 and produced his first multi-sack game in Week 17 of the 2018 season against the Miami Dolphins. He returned a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, one of his most memorable regular-season plays.
Shaq Lawson Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Shaquille Lawson has accumulated consistent production as a rotational defensive end, with his most productive seasons coming during his time with the Buffalo Bills. His career-high 6.5 sacks in 2019 and his 4.5 sacks across multiple seasons with the Dolphins and Bills highlight his role as a steady contributor on the edge.
Team Highlights
Lawson’s first NFL sack came against the New England Patriots in Week 8 of the 2016 season. His first career multi-sack game arrived in Week 17 of 2018 against the Miami Dolphins. With the Dolphins in 2020, he recorded his first sack as a member of the team against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4 and later scored on a 36-yard fumble return against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9.
Other Performances
Beyond team milestones, Lawson earned Consensus All-American and First-team All-ACC honors in 2015 at Clemson, where his four sacks as a freshman tied a school record at the time.
Shaq Lawson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shaquille Lawson was raised in Central, South Carolina. His full given name, Shaquille Olajuwan Lawson, reflects the basketball influence of Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon. His younger brother, Jahiem Lawson, has also played football at Clemson.
Personal Life
Lawson’s father was killed in a car accident during his junior year of high school, a loss that shaped his decision to attend Clemson to remain close to his family. Beyond this connection to his hometown and his brother’s football career, Lawson has kept most of his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Shaquille Lawson began the 2025 season as a free agent after a brief 2024 stint with the Carolina Panthers practice squad and active roster. On November 25, 2025, after a workout with the team the day prior, he was signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad, returning to the franchise for a third stint.
His role with the Bills heading into the late stages of the 2025 season is expected to mirror his previous Buffalo tenures, providing rotational depth on the defensive line. Lawson’s familiarity with the team’s defensive scheme and his history of producing multi-sack performances when given extended opportunities position him as a potential late-season contributor.
As the 2025 season progresses, Lawson’s combination of veteran experience and prior production in Buffalo offers the Bills a familiar option to elevate from the practice squad if injuries arise along the defensive front.