James Laurinaitis
A tackling machine known as 'Little Animal,' he was the defensive heartbeat of Ohio State and a durable NFL linebacker for nearly a decade.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player and coach·Birthday: December 3·Millennials
Biography
James Laurinaitis didn't just play middle linebacker; he commanded it with a preternatural sense of anticipation and a relentless motor that earned him the nickname 'Little Animal,' a nod to his professional wrestler father. At Ohio State, he was the undisputed quarterback of the defense, a three-time All-American who seemed to be in on every critical stop, sweeping national awards and leading the Buckeyes to consecutive BCS National Championship games. A second-round pick by the St. Louis Rams, he immediately became the defensive centerpiece, calling plays and racking up tackles with a consistency that made him a fixture for seven seasons. His game was built on intelligence and fundamentals over freakish athleticism, allowing him to start every game for his first six years in the league. Now back at his alma mater as a coach, Laurinaitis is imparting the same instinctive, detail-oriented approach that defined his own formidable playing career.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
James was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When James Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
James's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player in 2006.
- Was a three-time consensus All-American at Ohio State (2006, 2007, 2008).
- Recorded over 100 combined tackles in each of his first five NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
- Started all 112 games he played for the St. Louis Rams from 2009 to 2015.
Did You Know?
His father, Joe Laurinaitis, was the professional wrestler 'Road Warrior Animal' of the Legion of Doom.
He married the daughter of former NFL quarterback and coach Marc Trestman.
He set an Ohio State record for career tackles with 375, a mark later broken by Marcus Freeman.
“My job was to diagnose the play and get everyone in the right place.”
