Dallas Cowboys: 30 greatest players in franchise history
123. . Offensive Tackle. (1967-1979). Rayfield Wright. 12. player
It’s not often that a seventh-round selection ends up being a future Hall of Famer. But that’s exactly what Fort Valley State’s Larry Rayfield Wright became for the Dallas Cowboys after he was drafted in 1967.
Originally drafted as a tight end, and also used at defensive end, Wright would be permanently moved to offensive tackle by the Cowboys following an injury suffered by veteran Ralph Neely in 1969.
The player known affectionately as “Big Cat” would excel at his new position, earning himself six-straight Pro Bowl nominations and an equal amount of All-Pro nods. Opposing defenders were amazed by the 6-foot-6, 255-pound tackle’s quickness at the position.
By the end of his 13-year career, Wright had been to five Super Bowls, winning twice. He was also named NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year by the NFLPA in 1972.
Rayfield Wright was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s, is a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.