Eric Wright (cornerback, born 1959) facts for kids
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
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| Born: | April 18, 1959 East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
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| High school: | East St. Louis (IL) Assumption | ||||||||
| College: | Missouri | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1981 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40 | ||||||||
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Eric Cortez Wright, born on April 18, 1959, is a former American football player. He was a talented cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Wright was known for his strong defensive plays. He helped his teams win many important games.
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Early Life and College Football
Eric Wright grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois. He played college football at the University of Missouri. There, he became an excellent defensive player. He was named an "all-Big Eight" defensive back in both 1979 and 1980. His college teams played in three different bowl games. In 1990, he was even chosen for Missouri's all-century team. Wright also holds a Missouri record for catching three passes from the other team in one game. This happened against San Diego State in 1979.
NFL Career with the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers picked Eric Wright in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft. He played for the 49ers for ten seasons, from 1981 to 1990. Wright was considered one of the best "cover cornerbacks" of his time. This means he was very good at stopping opposing wide receivers from catching the ball.
Key Plays and Super Bowl Wins
Wright was a starting player on four teams that won the Super Bowl. These wins were in Super Bowl XVI, Super Bowl XIX, Super Bowl XXIII, and Super Bowl XXIV.
He made a very important play in the NFC Championship game on January 10, 1982. This game was against the Dallas Cowboys. After his teammate Dwight Clark made a famous catch known as "The Catch", the Cowboys were trying to score. In the final minute, Wright stopped Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson from scoring a touchdown. The 49ers then recovered a fumble, which helped them win the game. This win sent them to their first Super Bowl.
Peak Performance and Pro Bowl Selections
Eric Wright was chosen for the Pro Bowl two times. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. His best year was in 1983. That season, he caught 7 passes from the other team. He also scored 2 touchdowns after catching these passes. Wright even intercepted passes in two Super Bowl games: Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XIX.
Overcoming Injuries
In 1986 and 1987, Wright missed most of the games because of injuries. He had a deep groin pull and a chipped bone. Despite these setbacks, he worked hard to return. He became a starting player again in 1988. He then helped the 49ers win two more Super Bowls in a row.
Life After Football
After his playing career, Eric Wright remained connected to football. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Currently, he works as an alumni coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. In this role, he helps connect former players with the team.
