Bryson Shaw played six years of college football at USC and Ohio State. He is now the newest midfielder for the Boston Cannons of Premier League Lacrosse.
It will be his first time picking up a wand (in a legitimate capacity) since 2019.
Some fans of the PLL are choosing to mock the Cannons for being an unserious franchise that chases clout on social media. True lacrosse and college football sickos are excited for Shaw to get the opportunity and to watch this experiment unfold in real time.
Who is Bryson Shaw?
Shaw was rated as a four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2019 out of The Bullis School in Maryland. The 6-foot-0, 190-pound safety ranked as one of the top-20 players at his position and a top-250 player overall.
Not only was he a star for the Bulldogs on the gridiron, he also ran track and played lacrosse.
In fact, it seemed for awhile that his future was as a laxer. Shaw received a First-Team All-American nod as a senior in high school but his impressive senior season in the secondary led him to pursue football.
Ohio State ultimately went into Maryland and received his commitment. He totaled 62 tackles with four pass deflections and one interception in three seasons with the Buckeyes.
Bryson Shaw entered the transfer portal in 2022 and spent the next three seasons at USC.
His numbers with the Trojans in 2022 and 2023 were on par with his numbers with the Buckeyes in 2021. He made 107 tackles with four pass deflections and one interceptions during his first two seasons in Los Angeles as a crucial piece to the defense. 2024 was not quite as productive but still strong.
Shaw did not hear his name called in the NFL Draft but the New York Giants offered him a chance to compete at Rookie Minicamp over the summer. They ultimately did not sign him to the roster.
Although his professional football career did not last as long as he might’ve hoped, Shaw made it to the league! His decision to play college football proved correct.
The Boston Cannons are giving him a second chance at lacrosse.
With the NFL now behind him, Bryson Shaw is turning his focus back to lax. The Boston Cannons of Premier League Lacrosse signed him to the #BoomSquad for the rest of the season.
Welcome to the #BoomSquad, @bshaw272727 💣💥
— Boston Cannons (@PLLCannons) January 15, 2026
We have signed Midfielder Bryson Shaw through the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/0RcDliNaaF
Shaw has not played lacrosse since his senior year of high school. He can’t wait to get started.
“Really excited and grateful for the opportunity to get back on to the lacrosse field. I have missed the sport deeply and going to give the game everything I have! Let’s roll!”
This surprising addition to the top professional lacrosse league in the world is not dissimilar to what happened with Chris Hogan in 2021. Hogan played a decade in the NFL and won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots after a standout college lacrosse career at Penn State. The Boston Cannons signed him to a PLL deal upon his retirement from football.
Shaw is the latest former football player to make his return to lacrosse as a professional in Boston. His highlight tape from The Bullis School is legit.
But that was six+ years ago!
Some PLL fans are skeptical of the signing. They are convinced it is another attempt for the Cannons to get clicks— for Boston to get even more eyeballs on its organization. It’s all for clout.
Other lacrosse fans, and the more casuals like myself, are excited to see this play out. Can a guy who was at an NFL minicamp as recently as June return to a sport he has not played in six years and find success? Bryson Shaw hopes to proves the haters wrong. I see it as a fascinating athletic experiment!