Louis Wright was a first-round (17th overall) cornerback for the Broncos from 1975 to 1986.
That was back when defensive players were allowed to do a lot more than they are now.
He played before my time, so just watching highlights of him on the Broncos’ Orange Crush defense, it’s clear he had his eye out for picking off passes. He finished his career with 26 interceptions, returning them for 360 total yards and one touchdown.
In his rookie season in 1975, Wright played 11 of 12 games, recording two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He was a big part of the team during its first Super Bowl appearance in 1977.
Around that time, the NFL enforced a couple of rule changes that were not in favor of defenses:
(1) Defenders are only permitted to make contact with receivers once. (2) Defenders are not allowed to make contact with an opponent above the shoulders with the palms of their hands, except to ward him off the line.
Despite the necessity of changing playing styles, Wright was still a dominant player for the Broncos. Wright is yet another key member of a Denver Broncos team that is not in the Hall of Fame but deserves to be.
He is in the team’s Ring of Fame and is absolutely a top-10 member of the Broncos.
– GT