Steve Wright Passes Away at 82: A Legacy in NFL and Inspiration for the Walter Payton Trophy
Steve Wright, a former offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, has died at the age of 82. His life and career significantly influenced the creation of the Walter Payton Man of the Year trophy.
Steve Wright, former offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, passed away on Sunday at a care facility in Augusta, Georgia. He was 82 years old.
Wright’s likeness inspired the Walter Payton Man of the Year trophy, which was initially created to honor him before being renamed after the legendary Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton.
Originally drafted in the fifth round of the 1964 NFL Draft after playing at Alabama, Wright joined the Packers, who already had strong offensive tackles including Forrest Gregg and Norm Masters. Due to the depth at his position, Wright did not play in his rookie year.
In 1965, Vince Lombardi decided to shift Gregg to left guard, leading to Wright starting at right tackle for the first 11 games of the season. However, his playing time diminished as the Packers won multiple NFL Championships in the following years.
Wright was later traded to the New York Giants along with linebacker Tommy Crutcher, finishing his career with several NFL teams, including the Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, and St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1969, artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz crafted a sculpture named “The Gladiator” featuring Wright, who was modeled wearing a bird-cage facemask. The award for the NFL’s top humanitarian was eventually named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 1999, recognizing Payton’s contributions on and off the field.
