Overview

• The Green Bay Packers announced on June 3 that Wright died on June 1 at a care facility in Augusta, Georgia, at age 82.
• Wright played for Alabama under coach Bear Bryant from 1961 to 1963 and was part of the Crimson Tide’s 1961 national championship team.
• Selected by Green Bay in the fifth round of the 1964 NFL draft, Wright appeared in 56 games with 13 starts from 1964 to 1967, earning one NFL Championship and Super Bowls I and II.
• He spent the final five seasons of his career with the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring in 1972.
• Wright’s likeness was first cast as “The Gladiator” in 1969 and became the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1970 before being renamed for Walter Payton in 1999 to honor players’ community service and on-field achievements.