Larry Wilson (American football)

Lawrence Frank Wilson (March 24, 1938 – September 17, 2020) was an American professional football safety who played with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).^[1] An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, he played his entire 13-year career with the Cardinals and remained on the team's payroll until 2003, long after the team moved to Phoenix in the 1988 season.^[2][3]

Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978,^[4] his first year of eligibility,^[1][5] was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994^[6] and was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.^[7]

Wilson was born on March 24, 1938, in Rigby, Idaho, where he grew up.^[8] Wilson’s mother died when he was a child and his father raised Wilson and his brother. Wilson helped raise his younger brother, with his father out of the house as a truck driver at times. As a teen, he worked long days harvesting potatoes.^[9][10][11]

Wilson attended Rigby High School. He earned 16 varsity sports letters, and the football team won a state championship. Wilson also set state records in the high jump and high hurdles.^[12] A Hometown Hall of Famer plaque now hangs at the school, presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame,^[13] noting his accomplishments. The school’s stadium was named for Wilson^[12] until the school relocated, and he was later honored with a $20,000 monument in 2021 at the new site.^[14] His jersey number 7 has been permanently retired, and the Larry Wilson Sharpening the Axe Award is given annually to one offensive and one defensive player on the football team. A scholarship is given annually in Wilson’s name to one senior, based on a number of factors, including that the person reflect Wilson’s qualities of kindness, humility, and having the respect of peers.^[9]

During the ceremony honoring Wilson in 2021, the chair of the committee to honor Wilson observed the lack of hate and divisiveness in his nature, and stated, "“It doesn’t matter what your politics are or what your religion is, (honoring a man like Larry Wilson) is something we can all come together on and I think that is so important for our community.'"^[9]

After graduation in 1956, he played college football at the University of Utah, where he was a two-way starter at halfback and cornerback for the Utes under head coaches Jack Curtice and Ray Nagel.^[1][8] In 1959, he was third team All-American and first team All-Skyline Conference at running back, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He rushed for over 1,200 yards with 11 touchdowns in his college career, averaging 26.1 yards in kick returns.^[15] Wilson played more minutes than any player in school history.^[9] He was inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 1985.^[15] He was the first Utah player ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.^[16]

Despite his skill and adaptability, Wilson's small size (he was only six feet tall) resulted in him not being selected until the 7th round of the 1960 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals. The draft was held in November 1959, and the franchise moved to St. Louis before the start of the 1960 season.^[8] Wilson was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the first American Football League draft.^[17]

During his first Cardinals training camp, Wilson was unsuccessful at running back and cornerback, and was in danger of being cut from the Cardinals roster. He was moved to safety by coach Frank "Pop" Ivy and defensive coordinator Chuck Drulis in the final preseason game, and Wilson made the team at that position.^[18][19] He started 11 of the Cardinals 12 games his rookie year (1960) at safety.^[10][20]

In Wilson's second season, Drulis began to implement a new defensive maneuver, the "safety blitz", which Drulis decided would feature Wilson and his skill set. This involved the safety rushing at the line of scrimmage instead of defending against the pass, in an attempt to sack or hit the quarterback before the ball was thrown.^[10][8] In the opening game of 1961 against the New York Giants, Wilson sacked the quarterback twice on safety blitzes and disrupted the Giants offense in an upset victory for the Cardinals.^[10] Wilson transformed the nature of the safety position with his aggressive play, and would be known for the safety blitz throughout his career. As stated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Wilson "did not invent the safety blitz, but he did capitalize on the maneuver to a degree not reached by any other pro player of the decade."^[8][11] Wilson’s nickname was Wildcat, and the safety blitz was named “Wildcat” because of its close association with Wilson.^[8][21][22]

It also has been stated that, shortly before Wilson's signing, Drulis crafted a play that called for the free safety to take part in a blitz. The play was code-named "Wildcat", but Drulis didn't think he had anyone with the skills and athleticism to run it until Wilson's arrival.^[23][24] Drulis was impressed enough with Wilson that he persuaded the Cardinals to convert him to free safety. When the Cardinals first ran the safety blitz, the pressure was severe since most teams did not (and still do not) 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.^[25] Wilson became so identified with the play that "Wildcat" became his nickname.^{[citation needed]}

It has also been stated that Drulis first tried the safety blitz in 1960, and used Cardinals 1960 All Pro safety Jerry Norton^[26] in the scheme.^[27][28]

During 1966, he had at least one interception in seven consecutive games, en route to a 10-interception season that led his league.^[18] Wilson is renowned for not only playing, but intercepting a pass, with casts on both hands due to broken wrists, which he returned for a touchdown.^[8] Wilson is still the Cardinals career leader in interceptions.^[29]

During his career, Wilson was named first or second team All-Pro seven times and represented the Cardinals on eight Pro Bowl teams.^[20][18] In 1969, he was named runner up at safety on the NFL 50th Anniversary All Time Team.^[30] In 1966, he was one of only four non-quarterbacks to receive votes for most valuable player.^[31] The Newspaper Enterprise Association named him Defensive Player of the Year in 1966.^[32] Fellow Idahoan 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."^[33] 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.

Wilson ended his career with 52 career interceptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns, as well as 14 fumble recoveries for 173 yards and 2 more scores.^[20]

Wilson retired after the 1972 season. He is one of the few players to have played in the NFL for at least 10 years without having taken part in an official playoff game. The closest he came to postseason play was in 1964, when the Cardinals played in and won the Playoff Bowl, a postseason third-place game.^[34][35] Although it counted as a playoff game at the time, it has since been retconned as an exhibition.^[36] The 1964 season was also one of only five winning seasons the Cardinals had during his 13-year career.^[37]

Following his retirement as a player, Wilson was named secondary coach and director of scouting. He stepped down as secondary coach after the 1973 season. He was the Cardinals’ Director of Pro Scouting from 1973-1976, and Director of Pro Personnel 1977-1988.^[19] In 1977, he was named general manager,^[22] a post he would hold (under various titles) for the next 17 years. He also served as interim head coach in 1979 after the dismissal of Bud Wilkinson.^[38] Wilson was the first general manager of the Arizona Cardinals in 1988, adding the title of vice president, after the team's move to Arizona.^[2][39] He stepped down as GM in 1993, but remained as vice president until his retirement after the 2002 season.^[3]

In addition to the honors during his career, Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, making him one of five Hall of Famers to have never played in the postseason.^[40][41] 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 Cardinals.^[42] The team has also retired his uniform number 8.^[19] In 2007, NFL Network ranked him ninth on its list of the "Top 10 Draft Steals" in NFL history.^[43] Wilson was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994 and was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.^[6][7]

He was a member of the NFL’s 1960s All-Decade Team.^[44] He was also named to the 1970s All-Decade Team, after the AFC-NFC merger.^[45]

In 2020, his October 2, 1966 one-handed interception and 91 yard return for a touchdown was selected as one of the hundred greatest plays in NFL history.^[46]

He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2000,^[47] and is also a member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.^[48] Wilson is a member of the Cardinals Ring of Honor.^[49]

Wilson was married to Nancy Wilson for over forty years and had two children. He died on September 17, 2020, in Scottsdale, Arizona.^[50][51]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larry Wilson (American football).

• Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference · 
• Larry Wilson at the Pro Football Hall of Fame