Wilson Whitley
No. 75
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:(1955-04-28)April 28, 1955
Brenham, Texas, U.S.
Died:October 27, 1992(1992-10-27) (aged 37)
Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Brenham (TX)
College:Houston (1973–1976)
NFL Draft:1977 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:11.5
Fumble recoveries:5
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Wilson Carl Whitley Jr. (May 28, 1955 – October 27, 1992) was an American professional football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars, where he was named a consensus All-American under defensive coordinator Don Todd. He led the Cougars to the Southwest Conference championship in during Houston's first season as a conference member and won the 1976 Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman. Former President Gerald Ford presented him the award.[1] He was later named to the 1970s Southwest Conference All-Decade Team.

Professional career

Whitley was drafted in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and started alongside another Lombardi Award winner, Ross Browner, for 6 seasons.[2]

Death

Whitley died at the age of 37, due to a heart attack.[3]

Honors

He is a 1998 inductee into University of Houston's Hall of Honor and was a perennial candidate for the National College Football Hall of Fame until his selection in 2007.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Former UH Great Wilson Whitley To Be Inducted Into The College Football Hall of Fame". University of Houston.
  2. ↑ "Cincinnati Bengals History, 1981". Cincinnati Bengals.
  3. ↑ "Wilson Whitley, Football Player, 37". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "'70s UH standout Whitley to enter College Hall of Fame". Houston Chronicle.
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