Rayfield Wright

Larry Rayfield Wright (August 23, 1945 – April 7, 2022) was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2006.

Nicknamed "Big Cat" for his nimble feet,

Wright was a Boy Scout who, at an early age, memorized Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken. In his later years, he credited the poem with helping him navigate the choices he faced in life. During his first three years with Dallas, the , "Big Cat" was a tight end, defensive lineman, and offensive tackle.

In his third season in 1969, Wright got his first chance as a starter after Ralph Neely was sidelined by injury. His opponent in his first start was Los Angeles Rams future Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones, who was in his prime. Wright's performance was so strong that he won a starting role as right tackle before the first day of training camp in 1970.

For thirteen seasons, Wright played more than 200 games, started at right tackle in six NFC Championship games, and played in five Super Bowls, winning two of them: (VI, XII). He earned his first of four All-Pro honors in 1971 and was voted that same year to the first of six straight Pro Bowls.

Wright was named first- or second-team All-Pro each season from 1971 through 1976, earned three All-NFC honors, and the Cowboys led the league for total offense five times (ranked 6th all-time at retirement in 1979). His blocking and leadership as the team's co-captain for seven years helped the Cowboys win 10 division titles and six conference crowns.

Released by the Cowboys in March 1980, Wright signed in April with division rival Philadelphia, but retired early in training camp in July 1980.

He anchored the line for an offense that finished in the top ten in scoring all ten seasons of the 1970s, while helping pave the way for the first five 1,000-yard rushers in Cowboys' history. where his bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled.

He was also inducted into the State of Georgia Hall of Fame, the Fort Valley Georgia Hall of Fame and the Griffin Georgia Hall of Fame.

Personal life In 1992, Wright served as an assistant coach to the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. Wright's post-football involvement with at-risk, inner city youth resulted in his appointment to the Juvenile Supreme Court in Arizona. He also served as president of the NFL Alumni Chapter, "Caring for Kids" program in the mid-90s. His philanthropic endeavors, including the non-profit "Kids 4 Tomorrow" organization he co-founded with some other NFL players, were featured in Volume 9 of the Philanthropy World Magazine, along with former Cowboy teammate, Cliff Harris.

Wright founded the Rayfield Wright Foundation, which helps children obtain grants to attend college. He authored and published his autobiography Wright Up Front.

In his later years, Wright battled early-onset dementia, the result of numerous head injuries he says he had in 13 seasons, more than 180 regular-season and playoff games from 1967 to 1979. Wright claimed to have suffered several concussions throughout his career, and struggled with memory loss, and claimed to have been in several car accidents caused by seizures. Wright joined other former NFL players in a class-action suit against the NFL accusing the league of hiding evidence of head trauma causing degenerative brain disease; the lawsuit was settled in 2015. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Di; his three daughters Courtney Minor, Anitra Hernandez, and Ariel Wright; his sons Laray and Larry Jr; and his brother Lamar.