Eric Wright (cornerback, born 1959) facts for kids
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
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| Born: | April 18, 1959 St. Louis, Missouri, 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 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). He played for the 49ers for ten seasons, from 1981 to 1990.
Before joining the NFL, Eric played college football at the University of Missouri. He was an amazing defensive player in 1979 and 1980. He even holds a Missouri record for catching three passes from the other team in one game!
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Eric Wright's NFL Career
Eric Wright was chosen by the 49ers in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He quickly became known as one of the best cornerbacks of his time. A cornerback's job is to stop the other team's receivers from catching the ball.
Super Bowl Success
Eric was a key player on four Super Bowl-winning teams for the 49ers. These wins happened in Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, and XXIV. Winning four Super Bowls is a huge achievement in football!
One of his most famous plays happened on January 10, 1982. It was during a championship game against the Dallas Cowboys. After his teammate Dwight Clark made a famous catch, Eric made a game-saving tackle. This tackle helped the 49ers win and go to their first Super Bowl.
Top Performances and Awards
Eric was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice, which means he was one of the best players in the league. His best year was in 1983. That season, he caught 7 passes from the other team (called interceptions). He even ran two of those interceptions back for touchdowns! He also made interceptions in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XIX.
Overcoming Challenges
Eric faced some tough injuries in 1986 and 1987. He missed most of those two seasons because of a deep groin injury. But he worked hard and came back as a starter in 1988. He then helped the 49ers win two more Super Bowls in a row!
Life After Football
After retiring from playing, Eric Wright continued to be involved with the San Francisco 49ers. He now works as an alumni coordinator for the team. This means he helps connect former players with the team and each other.
