LOUIS WRIGHT

Louis Wright

6'2" 200

Cornerback

Denver Broncos

1975 - 1986

12 Seasons

166 Games Played

26 Interceptions

11 Fumble Recoveries

512 Return Yards

4 Touchdowns

5 Pro Bowls

Louis Donnel Wright was drafted in the first round of the 1975 draft by the Denver Broncos. He was the 17th player picked overall. Wright first went to college at Arizona State University, but then transferred to San Jose State University. Wright was also a noted track star at SJSU. The long jump was his best event. Wright's San Jose State best of 25-feet-7 ranks in the top-five in school history. He also won two letters in track and once ran the 100 in 9.6 seconds. Wright started at Cornerback in his two years at SJSU, and intercepted 3 passes in his career there. After he finished his San Jose State career, he played in the 1974 East-West Shrine Game and 1974 Senior Bowl. Louis Wright is a member of the San Jose State University Hall of Fame.

Wright started all 11 games that he played in his rookie year. He intercepted 2 passes and recovered one fumble. In 1977, he had 3 interceptions for 128 yards. He also scored the first touchdown of his career. Wright was a key member of the "Orange Crush" defense that went to Super Bowl XII. Wright would garner his first Pro Bowl nod that year as well. Wright would make the Pro Bowl in each of the next 2 seasons as well. In 1979, Wright took a fumble 82 yards for a touchdown. In 1980, Wright was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. He ended up missing half on 1981 due to an injury, but still was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. Wright came back at full health for 1982 with 2 interceptions. Wright snared a career high 6 interceptions in 1983, and was named to the Pro Bowl team. In 1984, Wright would return a fumble for a touchdown and was named to The Sporting News All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-Conference First Team, UPI All-Conference Second Team, and Newspaper Ent. Association All-Conference Second Team. 1985 saw him intercept 5 passes, and score the last touchdown of his career. Wright also made his last Pro Bowl team that year as well. Wright played his last season in 1986. He picked off 3 balls, and helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI. Louis Wright is a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.

Louis Wright was a shutdown Cornerback the day he walked onto an NFL field. Teams would hardly throw the ball to his side of the field. Wright was also a hard hitter, and was one of best run supporting Cornerbacks of his era. He was vital to the "Orange Crush" defense. Hall of Famer Stan Jones coached a line that featured Lyle Alzado and Rubin Carter. Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar were top notch Linebackers. Strong Safety Billy Thompson was also great. The Broncos were #1 in the NFL against the run in 1977. Louis Wright was consistently excellent. His 163 starts rank seventh on All-Time in Broncos history. Opponents feared him. He is the greatest defensive back in the history of the Denver Broncos. Many of his contemporaries feel he was the best Cornerback in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, during his career. He was big, and fast. He wasn't one to blow his own horn, and has flown under the radar of the Hall of Fame voters since he has retired. Recreational football fans may look at his stats and not be impressed, but tackles were not a recorded statistic throughout much of Wrights career. He was always amongst the teams leaders in tackles, which is impressive when you consider how much teams tried to avoid him. If you were blessed enough to have seen Louis Wright play, then you would agree he deserves induction into Canton.

Notable Players Drafted In 1975 (* Denotes Canton Inductee)

1. Steve Bartkowski, QB, Atlanta

2. Randy White, DT, Dallas *

3. Ken Huff, G, Baltimore Colts

4. Walter Payton, RB, Chicago *

6. Robert Brazile, LB, Houston Oilers

8. Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, DT, San Diego

9. Mike Fanning, DT, LA Rams

10. Jimmy Webb, DT, San Francisco

11. Dennis Harrah, G, LA Rams

14. Glenn Cameron, LB, Cincinnati

16. Russ Francis, TE, New England

18. Thomas Henderson, LB, Dallas

20. Doug France, OT, LA Rams

22. Mike H. Williams, CB, San Diego

24. Neal Colzie, S, Oakland

25. Mike Mullaney, TE, Minnesota

26. Dave Brown, CB, Pittsburgh

28. Monte Jackson, CB, LA Rams

30. Louie Kelcher, DT, San Diego

31. Mike Hartenstine, DE, Chicago

33. Fred Dean, DE, San Diego *

36. Freddie Soloman, WR, Miami

38. Doug English, DT, Detroit

47. Bill Bain, OT, Green Bay

48. Leroy Jones, DE, LA Rams

53. Mike Washington, CB, Baltimore

55. Gary Burley, DE, Cincinnati

58. Willard Harrell, RB, Green Bay

63. Elois Grooms, DE, New Orleans

68. Richard Wood, LB, NY Jets

70. Bob Breunig, LB, Dallas

73. Mike Fuller, S, San Diego

77. Bo Harris, LB, Cincinnati

82. Tony Peters, S, Cleveland

85. Cleveland Elam, DT, San Francisco

90. Pat Donovan, OT, Dallas

95. Rick Upchurch, WR, Denver

98. Rod Perry, CB, LA Rams

105. Roosevelt Leaks, FB, Baltimore

108. Mike Thomas, RB, Washington

110. Revie Sorey, G, Chicago

116. Steve Grogan, QB, New England

117. Steve Freeman, DB, New England

120. Pat McInally, WR, Cincinnati

121. Rubin Carter, DT, Denver

122. Jeff West, P, Cincinnati

132. Fulton Kuykendall, LB, Atlanta

135. Bob Avellini, QB, Chicago

136. Billy Shields, OT, San Diego

141. Horace King, RB, Detroit

158. Jim Obradovich, TE, NY Giants

164. Rickey Young, RB, San Diego

171. Mark Cotney, DB, Houston

173. Mike Hegman, LB, Dallas

176. Pat Haden, QB, LA Rams

194. Leonard Thompson, WR, Detroit

199. Steve Foley, S, Denver

228. Dallas Hickman, LB, Washington

248. Ken Schroy, DB, Philadelphia

253. Roland Hooks, RB, Buffalo

257. Joe Danelo, K, Miami

259. Steve Sylvester, C, Oakland

262. George Martin, DE, NY Giants

263. Jeff Merrow, DE, Atlanta

271. John Sawyer, TE, Houston

290. Dick Ambrose, LB, Cleveland

291. Doug Plank, S, Chicago

311. Autry Beamon, DB, Minnesota

313. John Roman, OT, Baltimore

330. Herbert Scott, G, Dallas

349. Joe Fields, C, NY Jets

380. Brison Manor, DE, NY Jets

384. Art Kuehn, C, Washington

420. Roland Harper, RB, Chicago