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Denver Broncos: Chris Harris and the best cornerbacks in team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 03: Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. #25 of the Denver Broncos looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 03: Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. #25 of the Denver Broncos looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 15: Running back Preston Pearson #26 of the Dallas Cowboys runs into Louis Wright #20 of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XI at the Superdome on January 15, 1978, in New Orleans, Lousiana. The Cowboys defeated the Broncos 27-10. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 15: Running back Preston Pearson #26 of the Dallas Cowboys runs into Louis Wright #20 of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XI at the Superdome on January 15, 1978, in New Orleans, Lousiana. The Cowboys defeated the Broncos 27-10. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images) /

Louis Wright

To think that Louis Wright and Thompson played in the same secondary is pretty incredible.

Wright finished his career with 26 interceptions, running one back for a score. He also had 11 fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for a touchdown. He went to the Pro Bowl five times and was named a First-Team All-Pro four times.

On top of that, he was named to the All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Wright’s statistics might be gaudier had it not been for one minor detail: Teams flat out avoided throwing at him. The term “shutdown corner” is used often in today’s NFL but literally, one of the first cornerbacks that term was ever applied to was Wright.

He just erased one side of the field on a regular basis. In addition, he was tremendous in run support, a trait that was extremely important to be one of the best cornerbacks in that era. And Wright absolutely was that, drawing comparisons to two of the greatest corners in history in Mel Blount and Mike Haynes, two guys who also played in those days.

It’s a crying shame that Wright has never been included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Those who know and have studied the game of football know that he is more than deserving.

As a tribute to his outstanding career in Denver, which lasted 12 seasons, Wright was selected as a member of the team’s Ring of Fame in 1993.

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