Professional Football Player. For sixteen seasons (1963 to 1978), he played at the punter position in the American and National Football Leagues with the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Born Jerrel Douglas Wilson, he was raised in Alabama and Mississippi, where he attended S.S. Murphy High School and later Brookhaven High School. He played collegiate football at Pearl River Junior College and later at the University of Southern Mississippi. Selected by the Los Angeles Rams during the 17th round of the 1963 NFL Draft, he was simultaneously chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 11th round of the 1963 AFL Draft. Wilson ended up with Kansas City and went on to rival Ray Guy as one of the greatest punters during his era. He experienced an AFL Championship in 1966 which led to an appearance in Super Bowl I in 1967 and a world championship in 1970 (Super Bowl IV). Individually, he led the AFL in yards-per-punt twice (1965 and 1968) and in the NFL, he led the league three consecutive years (1971 to 1973) in yards-per-punt. Wilson achieved Pro-Bowl honors three-times (1970 to 1972). He was named to the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1988. He died from cancer.
Professional Football Player. For sixteen seasons (1963 to 1978), he played at the punter position in the American and National Football Leagues with the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Born Jerrel Douglas Wilson, he was raised in Alabama and Mississippi, where he attended S.S. Murphy High School and later Brookhaven High School. He played collegiate football at Pearl River Junior College and later at the University of Southern Mississippi. Selected by the Los Angeles Rams during the 17th round of the 1963 NFL Draft, he was simultaneously chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 11th round of the 1963 AFL Draft. Wilson ended up with Kansas City and went on to rival Ray Guy as one of the greatest punters during his era. He experienced an AFL Championship in 1966 which led to an appearance in Super Bowl I in 1967 and a world championship in 1970 (Super Bowl IV). Individually, he led the AFL in yards-per-punt twice (1965 and 1968) and in the NFL, he led the league three consecutive years (1971 to 1973) in yards-per-punt. Wilson achieved Pro-Bowl honors three-times (1970 to 1972). He was named to the Kansas City Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1988. He died from cancer.
Bio by: C.S.
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