Longtime Hamilton Tiger-Cats star linebacker Simoni Lawrence retires from football

He's done with football, but Simoni Lawrence will forever remain part of Hamilton.

The star linebacker announced his CFL retirement Thursday. Lawrence, 35, played 11 seasons in Canada, the last 10 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after starting out with Edmonton.

"Hamilton has always felt like home since I got here in 2013," Lawrence said. "It's hard to find stability in the game of football, especially up here in Canada.

"I'm extremely grateful for Hamilton, for being able to stay in one place for 10 years . . . I can't thank Hamilton enough for letting me call this my forever home."

Lawrence said the decision to retire wasn't easily reached.

"You think about it and you're like, 'I can keep going, I've got some more in me,"' he said. "But you know it's like I always say, I live in a world where I just do what makes sense.

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

Lawrence said a big reason why he fit in so well in Hamilton is its striking similarity to his hometown.

"Upper Darby, Pa., is very similar to Hamilton, the people are very similar," he said. "You guys ever go on vacation, go to Upper Darby and you'll feel right at home, like you've been in Hamilton, for sure.

"I could just relate."

Lawrence long held the unofficial title as the CFL's top trash talker, but always backed it up. His on-field tenacity and outgoing, fun-loving personality off it made the six-foot-one, 231-pound Lawrence a huge fan favourite in Hamilton.

Lawrence won't have problems easing into his new role. As a Ticats player, he participated in over 500 community events and dedicated thousands of hours to charitable causes throughout the city.

Not since the legendary Angelo Mosca, who