Steve Wright, a celebrated football player known for his championship victories, truly embodied the role. He was selected as the model for the sculpture representing the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Wright passed away on June 1 at the age of 82 in a care home in Augusta, Georgia, where he had lived for many years after adopting it as his home. Wright was a key player on national championship teams at both collegiate and NFL levels, playing as an offensive tackle for Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s inaugural national championship team at Alabama in 1961.
He also served as a tackle for the Green Bay Packers during their initial Super Bowl triumphs, Super Bowls I and II. The 1960s were a remarkable era for Steve Wright, marked by triumphs at the pinnacle of both college and professional football. His career gradually wound down with tenures at the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, and St. Louis Cardinals.
Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Wright played high school football under Dude Hennessy, a former player and future assistant to Bryant. This connection paved his way to Tuscaloosa in 1961. Wright played tackle for Bryant and the Crimson Tide from 1961 to 1963 and was picked by the Packers in the fifth round of the 1964 NFL Draft.
Remarkably, Wright was the sole player to have been part of championship teams coached by the iconic figures Bryant of Alabama and Vince Lombardi of the Packers. With his passing, he leaves behind numerous tales of the legendary coaches he once knew. He also leaves a somber reminder of his football years – two prosthetic knees.
After being chosen as the model for the Payton Award sculpture, renowned artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz opted for a unique approach, sculpting Wright as a gladiator with a cape elegantly draped over his shoulders. Over the years, Wright responded to being the model for the sculpture with modesty and wit. He quipped, “I’m the poster boy for being in the right place at the right time.” Or was it, “…the Wright place at the Wright time?” Arrangements will be forthcoming.
