Larry Wilson
Encyclopedia
Larry Frank Wilson 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.
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. This single play also helped to set up today's defenses where a blitz can come from anywhere.
Wilson eventually made All-Pro
honors eight 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. Jerry Kramer
, a guard for the Green Bay Packers
and author of Instant Replay, called Wilson "the finest football player in the NFL." Kramer described Wilson's play during an October 30, 1967 game, "...he fired up their whole team ... (h)is enthusiasm was infectious." 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 cited 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 served as the Cardinals' interim head coach in 1979 after the dismissal of Bud Wilkinson
, and was the franchise's general manager
from 1980 through 1993.
in 1978. 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. He was ranked #9 on NFL Network
's list of the "Top 10 Draft Steals" in NFL history.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
free safety who played for the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Wilson attended Rigby High School
Rigby High School
Rigby High School is a public high school located in Rigby, Idaho. The school serves about 840 student in grades 10 to 12 in the Jefferson County Joint School District. Its mascot is the Trojans, and its colors are gold, white, and maroon. The High School serves Rigby and its smaller surrounding...
, where a plaque now hangs noting his accomplishments. After high school Wilson played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Utah
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
, where he was a two-way starter.
NFL career
Despite his skill and adaptability, Wilson was not drafted until the 7th round of the 1960 NFL Draft1960 NFL Draft
The 1960 National Football League Draft Annual Player Selection Meeting in which NFL teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players, was held in secret in order to fend off increased competition for college players from the American...
by the St. Louis Cardinals. After originally playing as a cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, 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
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Chuck Drulis
Chuck Drulis
Charles John Drulis was an American football player and coach born in Girardville, Pennsylvania. He attended Temple University and played seven seasons in the National Football League...
crafted a play that called for the free safety to take part in a blitz
Blitz (American football)
In American football or Canadian football, a blitz or red dog is when players on or behind the line of scrimmage during a play, are sent across the scrimmage line to the offensive side to try to tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt...
. 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. This single play also helped to set up today's defenses where a blitz can come from anywhere.
Wilson eventually made All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
honors eight times in his career. Wilson represented the Cardinals on eight Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
teams. During the 1966 NFL season
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
, Wilson had at least one interception in seven consecutive games, en route to a 10-pick season that led his league. Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
, a guard for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and author of Instant Replay, called Wilson "the finest football player in the NFL." Kramer described Wilson's play during an October 30, 1967 game, "...he fired up their whole team ... (h)is enthusiasm was infectious." 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
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
challenged Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
' toughness by not playing for 2–4 weeks due to a broken finger. He cited 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 served as the Cardinals' interim head coach in 1979 after the dismissal of Bud Wilkinson
Bud Wilkinson
Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and politician. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, compiling a record of 145–29–4. His Oklahoma Sooners won three national championships and 14...
, and was the franchise's general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
from 1980 through 1993.
Honors
Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1978. In 1999, he was ranked number 43 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
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. He was ranked #9 on NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
's list of the "Top 10 Draft Steals" in NFL history.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile