Richard Sligh facts for kids

Richard Ellis Sligh (born August 18, 1944, died December 23, 2008) was an American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. He was part of the American Football League (AFL). Sligh is famous for being the tallest player in professional American football history.

Richard Sligh's Football Journey

Richard Sligh grew up in Newberry, South Carolina. He went to Gallman High School there. After high school, he played college football at North Carolina Central University. He studied biology and chemistry from 1962 to 1966. Richard was also on the Dean's List, which means he had high grades.

Becoming a Pro Player

In 1967, Richard Sligh was chosen in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft. This is a special event where professional teams pick new players. He was picked in the 10th round as a defensive tackle. A defensive tackle is a player who tries to stop the other team from running with the ball.

Playing in the Big Leagues

Richard Sligh played in eight games during his time in the professional league. He was a reserve player for the Oakland Raiders. This means he was ready to play if another player needed a break.

He was with the Raiders when they played in Super Bowl II. This was a very big game, but the Raiders lost to the Green Bay Packers. After that season, in 1968, another team called the Cincinnati Bengals chose him. However, he did not play for them in the regular season.

The Tallest Player Ever

Richard Sligh was very tall! He was 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters) tall. This makes him the tallest player in the history of professional American football. Other tall players include Matt O'Donnell at 6 feet 11 inches, and Morris Stroud and Dan Skipper, both at 6 feet 10 inches.

See also

• List of American Football League players