|
Wilson was selected to eight Pro Bowls and
earned five first-team All-Pro honors during his 13 seasons
(1960-72) for the then-St. Louis Cardinals. He later oversaw the
franchise relocation from St. Louis to Arizona for the 1988
season when he was both vice president and general manager of
the team.
"Besides my father, Larry Wilson was the most influential male
figure in my life," Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said. "He
was someone who truly lived his faith and demonstrated it daily
in the kindness he showed every single person he met. Any of us
lucky enough to be in his orbit - whether that was for a few
minutes or four decades - was always better off from the
experience.
"I will remember Larry Wilson first as a fantastic person but
then obviously as one of the greatest players the National
Football League has ever seen."
Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978
and named to the NFL's 100th anniversary team in 2019.
"The game lost a true legend with the passing of Pro Football
Hall of Famer Larry Wilson," Hall of Fame President and CEO
David Baker said. "He was not only one of the greatest to ever
play the game, but one of the nicest and kindest men I have ever
met. The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the
passing of Larry."
Wilson holds the Cardinals' franchise record with 52
interceptions, and he led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1966
when he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He scored
seven career defensive touchdowns -- five on interceptions and
two on fumbles.
Wilson retired from the Cardinals' front office in 2003.
Wilson is survived by wife Nancy, daughter Christie, son Larry
Jr.
--Field Level Media
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
