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EspañolLARRY WILSON
'Lawrence Frank Wilson' (born May 24, 1938, in Rigby, Idaho) is a former American football free safety who played for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Wilson attended Rigby High School, where a plaque now hangs noting his accomplishments. After high school Wilson played college football at the University of Utah, where he was a two-way starter. Despite his skill and adaptability, Wilson was not drafted until the 7th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. After originally playing as a cornerback, Wilson switched to free safety, and it was here that he found his place on the team.
Not long after Wilson made the team, defensive coordinator Chuck Drulis crafted a play that called for the free safety to take part in a blitz. The play was code-named "Wildcat", after Wilson's nickname. When the Cardinals first ran the safety blitz, the pressure was severe since most teams didn't (and still don't) expect a defensive back to take part in a pass rush.
Wilson eventually made All-Pro honors six times in his career. Wilson represented the Cardinals on eight Pro Bowl teams. During the 1966 NFL season, Wilson had at least one interception in seven consecutive games, en route to a 10-pick season that led his league. Wilson is renowned for not only playing, but intercepting a pass, with casts on both hands due to broken wrists. On the September 18, 2006 edition of ''SportsCenter'', Mike Ditka challenged Terrell Owens' toughness by not playing for 2-4 weeks due to a broken finger. He citied Wilson's interception with casts on both hands as proof of a tougher football player. He ended his career with 52 career picks for 800 yards and five touchdowns.
Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Wilson compared favorably with the Kansas City Chiefs great safety Johnny Robinson, who played fewer years at the position, but had ''57'' career interceptions for 745 yards, and seventeen touchdowns on pass receptions, rushes, and punt/interception returns. He, too had 10 interceptions in 1966 to lead ''his'' league. Wilson played in no post-season games, except for a "runner-up bowl". He was inducted to the Pro football Hall of Fame, while his contemporary Robinson, who had three league championship rings and a World Championship ring, has to date been excluded.
Wilson later served as the Cardinals' interim head coach in 1979 after the disimissal of Bud Wilkinson, and was the franchise's general manager from 1980 through 1993. In 1999, he was ranked number 43 on ''The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, making him the highest-ranked player to have played a majority of his career with the Cardinal franchise. The team has also retired his uniform number 8.
★ ''Pro Football Hall of Fame:'' Member profile
★ Football cards
Wilson attended Rigby High School, where a plaque now hangs noting his accomplishments. After high school Wilson played college football at the University of Utah, where he was a two-way starter. Despite his skill and adaptability, Wilson was not drafted until the 7th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. After originally playing as a cornerback, Wilson switched to free safety, and it was here that he found his place on the team.
Not long after Wilson made the team, defensive coordinator Chuck Drulis crafted a play that called for the free safety to take part in a blitz. The play was code-named "Wildcat", after Wilson's nickname. When the Cardinals first ran the safety blitz, the pressure was severe since most teams didn't (and still don't) expect a defensive back to take part in a pass rush.
Wilson eventually made All-Pro honors six times in his career. Wilson represented the Cardinals on eight Pro Bowl teams. During the 1966 NFL season, Wilson had at least one interception in seven consecutive games, en route to a 10-pick season that led his league. Wilson is renowned for not only playing, but intercepting a pass, with casts on both hands due to broken wrists. On the September 18, 2006 edition of ''SportsCenter'', Mike Ditka challenged Terrell Owens' toughness by not playing for 2-4 weeks due to a broken finger. He citied Wilson's interception with casts on both hands as proof of a tougher football player. He ended his career with 52 career picks for 800 yards and five touchdowns.
Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Wilson compared favorably with the Kansas City Chiefs great safety Johnny Robinson, who played fewer years at the position, but had ''57'' career interceptions for 745 yards, and seventeen touchdowns on pass receptions, rushes, and punt/interception returns. He, too had 10 interceptions in 1966 to lead ''his'' league. Wilson played in no post-season games, except for a "runner-up bowl". He was inducted to the Pro football Hall of Fame, while his contemporary Robinson, who had three league championship rings and a World Championship ring, has to date been excluded.
Wilson later served as the Cardinals' interim head coach in 1979 after the disimissal of Bud Wilkinson, and was the franchise's general manager from 1980 through 1993. In 1999, he was ranked number 43 on ''The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, making him the highest-ranked player to have played a majority of his career with the Cardinal franchise. The team has also retired his uniform number 8.
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| External links |
External links
★ ''Pro Football Hall of Fame:'' Member profile
★ Football cards
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