Steve Wright, NFL Trophy Model, Dies at 82

Steve Wright, a former NFL offensive tackle and the model for the Walter Payton Man of the Year trophy, has died at 82. Wright won a national championship with Alabama in 1961 and was drafted by both the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets in 1964, ultimately joining the Packers. He helped the Packers win three NFL championships, including Super Bowls I and II, before playing for the Giants, Washington, Chicago Bears, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1969, artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz used Wright as the model for the statue used for the NFL’s Man of the Year award, which was later renamed for Walter Payton. Wright also authored a candid memoir about his NFL experiences, noted for its rare player perspective. His legacy endures through the trophy that honors excellence on and off the field.