Steve Wright, a former NFL offensive tackle and the iconic figure behind the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award trophy has passed away at the age of 82. The Green Bay Packers confirmed his death, marking the end of an era for one of football's lesser known yet more impactful figures.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Wright had a remarkable professional football career. Selected in the fifth round from the University of Alabama in 1964, Wright made an immediate impact on the field and was a crucial member of one of the NFL's greatest dynasties.

Three-Time Champion with the Green Bay Packers

Steve Wright, Model Behind Walter Payton NFL Man of the Steve Wright, Model Behind Walter Payton NFL Man of the
Donald Miralle/Getty Images

According to Bleacher Report, Wright was a key figure on the Green Bay Packers' championship team of the 1960s under the legendary Vince Lombardi.

Wright anchored the Packers' line as an offensive tackle during a heyday that included winning several titles. His effort may not have always found its way into the newspapers, but it was a definite factor on the field.

Wright played in 101 NFL games, beginning more than 40 of them. His work ethic, toughness, and steady play earned him a well-respected reputation in the locker room and on the field.

Journeyman Career Beyond Green Bay

In 1968, Wright was traded to the New York Giants, starting a period of nomadic wandering in his football career. The next few years saw him have short-lived stops with Washington, Chicago, and St. Louis before he retired from the NFL. Though short-term, each stop contributed to a career founded on persistence and resilience.

The Man Behind the Man of the Year Trophy

Wright's most enduring legacy may not reside in-game stats or highlight reels but in bronze. Artist Daniel Bennett Schwartz, while Wright was with the New York Yankees, sculpted a statue of Wright as the subject.

According to TMZ Sports, that statue would come to be the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, one of the NFL's most storied honors, given to players for their excellence on and off the field.

Initially without a name, the award was renamed in 1999 for Walter Payton, the Chicago Bears great who was recognized for his philanthropic work. But the image and likeness of the statue belong to Wright's—forever enshrining him in the NFL's tradition of service and community outreach.

Author and Storyteller After Football

Following his retirement, Wright wrote about his life in professional football in his memoir, I'd Rather Be Wright: Memoirs of an Itinerant Tackle.

Wright's memoir provided fans with an insider's glimpse into the existence of an NFL journeyman, complete with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, personal observations, and consideration of a life that had been defined by the game.

Every NFL fan regardless of age, should know how Wright impacted NFL with his passing.