Gillis Wilson facts for kids

Gillis R. Wilson III (born October 15, 1977) is a former professional American football player. He played as a defensive end, a position on the defense that tries to stop the other team's offense. Gillis Wilson was chosen by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. This is when NFL teams pick new players from college. He played college football at Southern University.

Wilson also played for several other teams during his career. These included the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Rhein Fire in NFL Europe. He also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for teams like the Georgia Force and Dallas Vigilantes.

Early Life and College Football

Gillis R. Wilson III was born on October 15, 1977. His hometown is Morgan City, Louisiana. He went to Patterson High School in Patterson, Louisiana.

After high school, he played college football for the Southern Jaguars. This is the football team for Southern University. He was part of the team from 1996 to 1999. In his first year, 1996, he did not play in any games.

Professional Football Career

Gillis Wilson started his professional career in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers picked him as the 147th player in the 2000 NFL draft. He joined the Panthers' main team on December 21, 2000.

He later moved to the New York Giants' practice squad in October 2001. A practice squad is where players train with the team but are not on the main roster. The Carolina Panthers then signed him back in November 2001.

In 2002, Wilson signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He was released by the Cardinals in August of that year. He then joined the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2003. NFL Europe was a league that helped players develop their skills.

Arena Football League Teams

After playing in the NFL and NFL Europe, Gillis Wilson joined the Arena Football League (AFL). This league plays football indoors on a smaller field.

• He signed with the Georgia Force in November 2003.
• In 2005, he was recognized as a Second-team All-Arena player. This means he was one of the best players in the league that year.
• He was traded to the Kansas City Brigade in March 2006.
• Wilson later signed with the Grand Rapids Rampage in March 2007.
• He returned to the Kansas City Brigade in March 2008.
• His last team was the Dallas Vigilantes, where he signed in June 2010.