Only 72 days remain until the Chicago Bears begin the 2023 season on September 10th against the Green Bay Packers, and to celebrate the start of the season inching closer, today's edition of Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff will feature the most legendary player in franchise history to don the number 72, defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion William "The Fridge" Perry.
William Perry's path to the Chicago Bears
Hailing originally from Aiken, South Carolina, William Perry grew up as the third youngest in a family with 12 children, but despite being the little brother to most, there was never anything little about the future Chicago Bear.
Even at birth, Perry was always on the larger size for his age, tipping the scales at 13 lbs as an infant. By the time he was in sixth grade, Perry had already surpassed 200 lbs, and despite being the target for bullies throughout his early education, he was one of the more athletic kids in his grade.
As a teenager, Perry attended Aiken High School, where he was able to channel his size and athleticism into the school's football team, where he excelled as a nose guard on the defensive side of the ball. Clocking in at 6'2" and just under 300 lbs, Perry was far from a simple gap stuffer and was one of the more athletic players on the team.
Perry, who also participated in his school's track program, was the sixth fastest player on his squad, and would often sprint and condition with the running backs and wide receivers. Despite his size, Perry's athleticism was off the chart, and the defensive tackle was allegedly capable of 360-degree slam dunks throughout his time in high school.
With Perry's size and athleticism gaining notoriety in his district and state, the defensive tackle was offered by several top collegiate programs, including UCLA and Ohio State, before eventually committing to Clemson. As a freshman in 1981, Perry didn't earn much playing time, but still earned several iconic nicknames from his teammates and coaching staff, such as "The Refrigerator" and "G.E.".
Despite not playing as a freshman, Perry was a member of the school's 1981 National Championship squad, and would eventually work his way into the starting lineup as early as his junior season. As a junior, Perry was awarded a Consensus All-American nod as the nation's best nose tackle. The following year, Perry was elected as an All-ACC player at his position, capping off an impressive collegiate career.
Chicago Bears add William Perry to historic defensive line
Upon leaving Clemson, Perry entered his name into the 1985 NFL Draft, where he was subsequently selected by the Chicago Bears with the 22nd overall pick. The Bears, who were just coming off an NFC Championship appearance in 1984, quickly inserted Perry into a defensive line that already included legends such as Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and Steve McMichael.
As a rookie, it didn't take long for Perry to become a starter at the nose tackle position, but there were certainly some issues between the player and the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan was not the biggest fan of Perry as a rookie, and with head coach Mike Ditka being a big advocate for the big man, Ditka put the defensive tackle on the offensive side of the ball.
Perry's most memorable moments as a rookie came on the offensive side of the ball. Due to Perry's size and athleticism, the defensive tackle was an imposing force on the goal line and served as full-back or half-back in several different packages. During the regular season, Perry matched his five sacks with three offensive touchdowns on just six touches.
When the regular season ended and the 15-1 Bears entered the postseason, Perry's versatility as an offensive weapon only became more prevalent. In Super Bowl XX, Perry even stole the national spotlight when he received a handoff at the goal line, where the large-bodied individual punched through the offensive line for a one-yard touchdown.
Following the Super Bowl winning season, Perry proved himself as a more consistent defensive contributor, as the nose guard started in all 16 of the team's games during 1986. In the ensuing seasons, Perry faced several smaller injuries that forced him to miss time here and there, most notably a 13-game absence during the 1988 season, but the Clemson product played eight full seasons with the Bears before being traded halfway through the 1993 season.
William Perry post-Chicago Bears and legacy
Perry finished his career with a one-and-a-half-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles where he started all 24 games that he was on the roster for. Following his time with the Eagles, Perry retired from the NFL after the 1994 season. Perry briefly came back to the professional ranks by playing with the London Monarchs of NFL Europe in 1996, but following the season, he stepped away from the game permanently.
The vast majority of Perry's 10-year NFL career came with the Chicago Bears. In the Navy and Orange, the defensive tackle posted 28.5 sacks and nearly 450 total tackles over 114 games. In franchise history, Perry's sack total is tied for 20th best alongside Tommie Harris and Israel Idonije.
Following Perry's retirement from the NFL, the Super Bowl champion remained fairly relevant in popular culture, appearing in several different music videos, public campaigns, and film and television, most notably guest starring in an episode of the A-Team alongside former wrestler Hulk Hogan.
In more recent years, Perry has unfortunately had several serious health scares, largely due to some weight problems later in life. After being forced into a wheelchair within the past decade or so, Perry has reportedly seen an improvement in his physical health, and can hopefully continue to live a long and legendary life.