Larry Wilson Biography

Lawrence Frank Wilson was born on March 24, 1938, and passed away on September 17, 2020, after a career as a professional football safety. He played all 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and remained with the franchise until 2003, even after the team relocated to Phoenix in 1988. Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, his first year of eligibility, and was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994. The school’s stadium was named for him prior to relocation, and a $20,000 monument was dedicated in his honor in 2021. His jersey number 7 has been permanently retired, and an annual award is given to one offensive and one defensive player on the football team. Despite being only six feet tall, he was not selected until the seventh round of the 1960 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals. In 1966, he recorded at least one interception in seven straight games, tying an NFL record, and finished the season with 10 interceptions.