William Perry

William Anthony Perry (born December 16, 1962) is a former American professional football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "the Refrigerator", he played college football for the Clemson Tigers, winning ACC Player of the Year and earning first-team All-American honors in 1984. Perry was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Bears, where he played his first nine seasons. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles during his ninth season in 1993 and spent his final season with the team.

In his rookie year, Perry was a member of the 1985 Bears team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XX. He occasionally played fullback in goal line situations during the season and set the record for the heaviest player to score a touchdown at . Perry is the heaviest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl and has the largest Super Bowl ring at size 23–25.

Early life Perry was born in Aiken, South Carolina, tenth of twelve children (eight sons and four daughters) of Hollie Perry Sr (d. 2013), a house painter, and Inez (née Smith), a school dietitian. He has stated in an interview that "Even when I was little, I was big"; by the time he was 11 years old, he weighed 200 pounds. Frequently ridiculed for his weight while growing up, Perry took advantage of his athleticism to silence his critics. He attended Aiken High School and played as a 195-pound nose guard on the school's football team and ran on its track team. During an exercise in which his coach instructed all of his fastest players to line up for a 100-yard dash, Perry joined the group of running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs and eventually was timed as the 6th fastest runner on the entire team, with a time of 11 seconds flat. He was also able to run the 100 meters in under 12 seconds, and competed in the shot put event, recording a top throw of . He could also execute 360-degree dunks on regulation basketball hoops and perform a complicated dive into the swimming pool. earned consensus first-team honors as a junior, and was again a member of the first-team as a senior, as chosen by United Press International and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Professional career In 1985, he was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears; he had been hand-picked by coach Mike Ditka.

While Ryan refused to play Perry, Ditka decided to use Perry as a fullback when the team was near the opponents' goal line or in fourth and short situations, either as a ball carrier or a lead blocker for star running back Walter Payton. During his rookie season he rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for one. Ditka stated the inspiration for using Perry as a fullback came to him during five-yard sprint exercises. as a nod to his popularity and contributions to the team's success. The first time he got the ball, he was tackled for a one-yard loss while attempting to throw his first NFL pass on a halfback option play. The second time he got the ball, he scored a touchdown (running over Patriots linebacker Larry McGrew in the process).

His Super Bowl ring size is the largest of any professional football player in the history of the event. His ring size is 25, while the ring size for the average adult male is between 10 and 12.

Media appearances In November 2000 Perry participated in a boxing match against former NFL player Bob Sapp during a Toughman Contest which aired on FX; Perry lost the bout. In 2002, Perry participated in (and lost) a Celebrity Boxing match against former NBA player Manute Bol.

Perry participated in a World Wrestling Federation battle royal at WrestleMania 2 in Rosemont, Illinois in 1986. In 2006, he returned to the Chicago area to be inducted into the "Celebrity Wing" of the WWE Hall of Fame by John Cena.

In 2003, he appeared in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest as a "celebrity contestant". He stopped eating five minutes into the competition. Also in 2003, he appeared in a TV movie on Comedy Central called Windy City Heat, opposite an aspiring actor named Perry Caravello, who is led to believe he is acting in a major motion picture. He also made a short appearance in the opening of According to Jim (Season 8, Episode 15).

Pop culture In 1987, Hasbro produced an action figure of Perry for their G.I. Joe toy line. The Fridge – William "Refrigerator" Perry – was first available in early 1987 as a mail-order offer from Hasbro Direct. He was made available again through 1988, and then again in 1989. The figure had the number 72 emblazoned on his chest (the number Perry wore on his Chicago Bears jersey).

Television In 1986, Perry appeared as himself in an episode of The A-Team alongside WWF star Hulk Hogan.

In 1996 he appeared on the British comedy panel show They Think It's All Over as a mystery guest in the show's Feel the Sportsman round.

He also appeared on a 2002 episode of Comedy Central's The Man Show.

Personal life Perry has been married twice and has four children.

In June 2007, Perry was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. On April 22, 2009, Perry was hospitalized in South Carolina in serious condition from his Guillain–Barré syndrome. Perry spent approximately a month in the hospital before being released. In June 2010, it was reported that Perry suffered from hearing loss, but that he was improving after his diagnosis of Guillain–Barré syndrome. He had lost more than , but was, by this time, back up to .

In February 2011, ESPN ran a somber article about Perry, citing ongoing health and drinking problems and a weight of .

In April 2011, Cliff Forrest, a 10-year-old child, discovered Perry's Super Bowl ring for sale. With help from his mother he purchased it for $8,500 and returned the ring to Perry. In September 2015, it was reported that Perry's Super Bowl ring had been auctioned off for more than $200,000 by the man Perry had sold it to several years earlier.

As of October 29, 2014, Perry was confined to his late father's home. Michael Dean Perry, his younger brother and another former NFL defensive lineman, was William's guardian and conservator for his affairs. In January 2016, Perry, weighing more than , checked himself into the hospital to receive treatment for diabetes. Perry revealed he had no feeling in his feet and was in danger of having his leg amputated. In June 2016, Sports Illustrated reported that Perry was living in a retirement home, had financial difficulties and continued to drink alcohol despite having publicly acknowledged his alcoholism in 2011.