Lawrence Pillers facts for kids
| No. 76, 65 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | November 4, 1952 Hazlehurst, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Hazelhurst | ||||||||||
| College: | Alcorn State | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1976 / Round: 11 / Pick: 296 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Lawrence Pillers (born November 4, 1952) is a former American football player. He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for ten years. He played for the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons. Pillers is famous for winning two Super Bowl championships with the San Francisco 49ers.
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Early Football Career
Lawrence Pillers was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. He played college football for the Alcorn State Braves team. In the 1976 NFL draft, the New York Jets picked him in the 11th round. He played for the Jets from 1976 to 1980.
Super Bowl Wins
Pillers joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1980. He became a key player for their defense. With the 49ers, he helped his team win two Super Bowl titles.
Super Bowl XVI
The 49ers won Super Bowl XVI in 1982. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. This was the first Super Bowl win for the San Francisco 49ers.
Super Bowl XIX
Pillers and the 49ers won their second Super Bowl in 1985. They beat the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. This victory made the 49ers one of the top teams in the NFL.
Famous Play: The Sack
Lawrence Pillers made a very important play in 1981. It happened during the 1981 NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys. This game decided which team would go to the Super Bowl.
The Catch and the Final Moments
In the last minute of the game, the 49ers were behind. Their quarterback, Joe Montana, threw a pass to Dwight Clark. Clark made an amazing catch, known as "The Catch". This play gave the 49ers a 28–27 lead.
The Cowboys still had a chance to win. They moved the ball close to the 49ers' end zone. They hoped to kick a game-winning field goal.
Pillers' Game-Saving Sack
As the Cowboys tried to score, Lawrence Pillers stepped up. He tackled the Cowboys' quarterback, Danny White. This tackle is called a sack. When Pillers sacked White, White dropped the ball. This is called a fumble. The 49ers quickly recovered the ball. This play saved the game for the 49ers. It allowed them to win and go to the Super Bowl.
Life After Football
After his time with the 49ers, Pillers played for the Atlanta Falcons in 1984 and 1985. He retired from professional football in 1985. In 2018, at 65 years old, Lawrence Pillers graduated from Alcorn State University. This showed his dedication to education even after his football career.
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