The Arizona Cardinals are preparing to face the Washington Football Team and while they get ready to play on Sunday, one of their all-time greats passed away. Larry Wilson, the team's Hall of Fame safety, passed away at the age of 82 on Thursday night, per the team's official site.
Wilson began his career as a seventh-round pick of the Cardinals when the team was still located in St. Louis. The playmaking safety would go on to spend his entire 13-year career with the Cardinals.
Throughout those 13 seasons, Wilson compiled 52 interceptions, which was tied for 26th most in NFL history. He would also notch five defensive touchdowns and 14 fumble recoveries.
Some of the other notable players to record 52 interceptions include Champ Bailey, Mel Renfro, Jack Butler, and Bobby Dillon. All of them, like Wilson, were at one point inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After his playing career, Wilson chose to accept the job as the team's defensive backs coach in 1973. Then, in 1979, he would spend a year as the Cardinals' interim head coach. In the three games as the interim head coach, he produced a 2-1 record for the Cardinals.
While he joined the team as a coach in 1973, he also assumed an executive role with the organization. From 1973-2002, Wilson would hold an executive position with the Cardinals, finishing his time with the team as the vice president from 1994-2002.
There's no doubt that Wilson was one of the best players to sport a Cardinals uniform. With that being said, we send our condolences to his family after the legendary safety passed away on Thursday.
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