Alvin Wright
{{Short description|American football player (1961–2018)}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2018}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Alvin Wright
| number = 99
| position = Defensive tackle
Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date|1961|02|5}}
| birth_place = Wedowee, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|03|23|1961|02|05}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 274
| high_school = Randolph Co.
(Wedowee, Alabama)
| college = Jacksonville State
| undraftedyear = 1986
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1986|1991}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1992}})
- Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 8.0
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 1
| pfr = WrigAl20
}}
Alvin Wright (February 5, 1961 – March 23, 2018) was an American professional football defensive lineman. Wright, a nose tackle, played with the National Football League (NFL)'s Los Angeles Rams from 1986 to 1991 and was All-Pro in 1990.
Early life and college
Wright graduated from Randolph County High School in 1980 after leading the football team to the state playoff finals in 1979 and earned a football scholarship with Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Wright was Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year in 1980 and Defensive Player of the Year in 1981. He earned Honorable Mention All-America honors after the 1981 season. Wright lettered four years at Jacksonville State and had 200 career solo tackles, 388 total tackles, and 30 quarterback sacks. Wright led the Gamecocks to two Gulf South conference championships and three trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/mobile/hof.aspx?hof=34 |title=Jsugamecocksports.com Mobile - Hall of Fame |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008080318/http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/mobile/hof.aspx?hof=34 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Professional career
After college, Wright was drafted in the 14th round by the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. Rather than report to the Stallions, Wright went undrafted by the NFL and later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Rams in 1985. He briefly left the Rams' camp, but returned in 1986 and spent most of that season on the injured list with a knee injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-30-sp-3159-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times |date=September 30, 1988 }} Wright was the first Rams player to cross the picket line during the 1987 NFL players' strike and started his first career game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-01-sp-11384-story.html|title=Archives|website=Los Angeles Times |date=October 1987 }} He played 84 career games over seven seasons, starting 62, and recording 163 career solo tackles, 71 assists, and eight quarterback sacks. Wright led all Rams defensive linemen in tackles for four consecutive seasons and started 50 consecutive games from 1988 to 1991.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/mobile/hof.aspx?hof=34 |title=Jsugamecocksports.com Mobile - Hall of Fame |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008080318/http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/mobile/hof.aspx?hof=34 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
Wright had a wife named Sherri Wright (Baldy) and has two children, Brittany Shantelle Wright and Eric Pool (Wright).
Alvin Wright died of a heart attack on March 23, 2018.{{cite news|title=Alvin Wright|url=http://www.therandolphleader.com/obituaries/article_3d035b3a-383f-11e8-9f5f-af8afd09415d.html|accessdate=April 17, 2018|publisher=The Randolph Leader|date=April 4, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrightAl20.htm Alvin Wright career statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.com]
- [http://www.nfl.com/players/alvinwright/profile?id=WRI100676 NFL.com player page]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Alvin}}
Category:People from Randolph County, Alabama
Category:Players of American football from Alabama
Category:American football defensive linemen
Category:Jacksonville State Gamecocks football players