Hall of Fame five-time Super Bowl OT Rayfield Wright dies

Rayfield Wright, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame offensive deal with nicknamed “Huge Cat” who went to 5 Tremendous Bowls in his 13 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, died Thursday. He was 76.

Wright’s household confirmed his loss of life Thursday to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, which stated Wright had been hospitalized for a number of days following a extreme seizure. The Cowboys additionally confirmed the loss of life.

A giant participant for his period at 6-foot-6 and over 250 kilos, Wright had already been a backup tight finish for a few seasons when coach Tom Landry requested him about enjoying deal with. A stunned Wright stated he had by no means performed deal with in his life, however Landry instructed him he would make a great one.

Wright first began at deal with in a 1969 recreation lined up in opposition to Deacon Jones, probably the most dominant cross rusher of that period. Wright held his personal and settled in because the full-time starter at proper deal with in 1970, when Dallas made its first Tremendous Bowl. The Cowboys then gained their first Tremendous Bowl title in 1971, the primary of six consecutive seasons Wright was a Professional Bowler. He was a three-time All-Professional.

“He was completely the very best,” Corridor of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach stated earlier than Wright’s corridor induction in 2006. “Rayfield was a giant, robust man that was capable of switch his dimension and power from tight finish to deal with. He additionally had such fast ft that he was capable of take care of among the quicker defensive ends and even the linebacker blitzes. If he received beat, I do not bear in mind it.”

His “Huge Cat” nickname was due to being so nimble for his dimension.

Dallas gained one other Tremendous Bowl in 1977, however Wright performed solely two video games that season due to knee surgical procedure. He had performed in 95 of the group’s 98 regular-season video games, beginning 94 of them, the earlier seven seasons.

After Wright began solely 16 of his 31 video games in 1978 and 1979, he was launched by the Cowboys the next spring. He signed with NFC East rival Philadelphia, however formally retired due to lingering accidents early in coaching camp with out enjoying a recreation for the Eagles.

“Rayfield Wright was the epitome of what it takes to be a Corridor of Famer,” stated Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones, who purchased the group in 1989. “His grit, his agility, his ardour, his charisma and his love for soccer, the group and his household all the time shined by way of. He remained an necessary a part of the Cowboys household lengthy after his enjoying days ended.”

Wright was identified with early stage dementia in 2012, however had lengthy been tormented by seizures since his retirement. He believed they have been from the results of continued blows to the pinnacle whereas enjoying soccer. He had lengthy hidden coping with complications, dizziness and, at occasions, unexplained irritability and forgetfulness.

In a 2014 interview with The New York Occasions, Wright stated he incurred so many concussions throughout his NFL profession that he could not even rely them.

When lastly inducted into the Corridor of Fame greater than a quarter-century after his final recreation, Wright was offered in Canton, Ohio, by longtime Fort Valley State soccer coach Stan Lomax.

Wright did not even make his highschool soccer group for 3 years in Griffin, Georgia, earlier than he went to Fort Valley State in his house state to play basketball. The next summer season, Lomax made him give up his summer season job at a mill to prepare to affix the soccer group.

Lomax tried Wright at free security, then used him as a punter, defensive finish and tight finish. The coach additionally turned a father determine to Wright, who was picked by the Cowboys within the seventh spherical of the 1967 NFL draft.

Wright nonetheless most well-liked basketball, although he turned down a proposal after his junior season to signal with the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals, the franchise that’s now the Sacramento Kings, in order that he may end college.

His sights have been nonetheless set on the NBA when Cowboys participant personnel director Gil Brandt referred to as and stated the group was concerned about drafting him.

“I spotted that potential, enjoying for the Cowboys, was a God-given alternative, and I could not ignore it. I made a decision to attend the Cowboys’ coaching camp which was in July. The Royals camp did not begin until August,” Wright stated in his Corridor of Fame speech. “I form of figured that if I did not make the Cowboys group, I may go proper to the NBA.”

Wright stated Brandt was “signing all people that might stroll” and that he was amongst 137 rookies within the Cowboys’ coaching camp in 1967. He was certainly one of 5 that made the group.

Wright was a backup deal with the primary two months of the 1969 season, then thrust into the beginning job when Ralph Neely received damage. His first begin got here when Dallas, then 8-1, performed on the 9-0 Los Angeles Rams with their Fearsome Foursome protection.

“We go as much as the road of scrimmage and I am taking a look at Deacon Jones sq. in his eyes, his eyes appear to be crimson as fireplace, he is kicking his again leg like a bull,” Wright later recalled. “I am saying to myself, `My God, what have I received myself into?`”

Earlier than the ball was snapped, Jones bellowed, “Boy, does your Mama know you out right here?” Wright was so shocked that Jones ran over him.

“I rolled over, regarded over at our sideline considering that coach Landry was going to take me out of the sport,” Wright stated. “By that point, Deacon Jones reached his massive arms down and stated, `Hey, rookie, welcome to the NFL.’ ΓǪ I stated, `Effectively, Mr. Jones, you do not know my Mama, so do not discuss her. You wish to play the sport this manner, we’ll play it.”‘

The Rams gained 24-23, however Wright received a recreation ball for the job he wound up doing in opposition to Jones. Their duels over time went a good distance towards constructing Wright’s popularity.

Dallas by no means had a dropping report in Wright’s 13 seasons, a span that included eight NFC championship video games and people 5 Tremendous Bowl appearances. He was a part of the NFL’s all-decade group for the Seventies.