Chicago Bears: Top 25 players in franchise history
By Ryan Heckman
16. DT William Perry
Contrary to popular belief, William Perry’s first name is in fact not “Refrigerator.”
I know, it shocked me too.
Perry is obviously remembered not only as a phenomenal defensive tackle, but as the guy who was used as a fullback at times to block for Walter Payton. Perry, of course, did run in a touchdown in the beatdown of the Patriots back in Super Bowl XX.
Little do some folks know, Perry was made fun of frequently as a kid for being such a big boy. How did he respond? He responded on the football field. As a high schooler, Perry started on the defensive line as a 295-pound giant.
He took his talents to Clemson University and became a star, later drafted in 1985 as a 350-pound monster by the Bears. Just how big was Perry? His Super Bowl ring was made in a size 25 — to put that in perspective, the average male wears between sizes 10-13.
In his first season, Perry was another significant addition to the historic defense. It’s pretty rare to win a Super Bowl as a rookie, let alone score in the game. Perry didn’t even play offense, but was given the opportunity in his first season to make history.
Perry actually scored three offensive touchdowns in his 10-year career in the NFL. He was also good for 29.5 sacks as an interior lineman.