The “Wright’ message: Ex-East St. Louis Assumption star Eric Wright returns home

A hero returned home on Friday as East St. Louis Assumption graduate and four-time Super Bowl champion Eric Wright made a brief stop in the “City of Champions” to speak to a group of students at East St. Louis High School.

And while Wright’s stay wasn’t long, his message both to the students and then to a group of East St. Louis High School athletes was clear.

“When I was a kid, sports was our lives. In the summer there were leagues for us to play in and we would play American Legion Baseball and we would go up to Fairview Heights to play games. There were Khoury League games and there were always things to do to keep us out of trouble. These kids today in East St. Louis don’t have that. The odds are stacked against them,” Wright said. “Now these are some pretty smart and intelligent kids. I’m telling them to use academics and athletics as a launching pad to build lives for themselves.

“Work hard in whatever they do, focus on academics and go to college. You can always come back and give back to your community and school after you get your eduction.’’

College star and Super Bowl champion

Wright certainly did. A 1977 graduate of Assumption, Wright went on to the University of Missouri where he played three years for coach Warren Powers. A two-time all Big 8 Conference defensive back, Wright was a member of three Tigers bowl teams and was a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49’ers in the 1981 NFL draft.

A member of the 49’ers from 1981 to 1990, Wright along with Ronnie Lott became the best pair of cornerbacks on a team that is considered one of the best in National Football League history. Teammates with such legends as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, John Taylor and Rogers Craig, Wright was a defensive mainstay on the 49’ers teams which won Super Bowls in four of his 10 NFL seasons.

Wright was a two-time NFL all-pro and Pro Bowl game selection in 1984 and 1985. For his career, Wright finished with 18 interceptions and scored two touchdowns.

Life after football

Wright, 57, who works in the lumber business in the San Francisco area, maintains a close relationship with many former 49’ers teammates and other players of the past. Wright He is currently an alumni coordinator for the 49ers.

“I sell lumber every day and, as the alumni coordinator for the 49’ers, it’s part of my job description to stay in touch with the alumni. It’s something I enjoy a great deal and keeps my in touch with the team. I work the home games every Sunday and so I’m still involved,’’ Wright said. “We’re going to Canton (Ohio) next month for the Hall of Fame for the induction of Edward DeBartolo, Jr. I’m really looking forward to that.’’

Wright said he returns home to East St. Louis about twice a year. He was in East St. Louis this week for a wedding and will attend a banquet in Columbia, Mo.

“I was in town over the Fourth of July for my nephew’s wedding and I’m back to Columbia for a benefit for my old coach (Warren Powers) at Missouri,” Wright said. “I get home two or three times a year. Right now we’re trying to organize a golf tournament that we would have maybe over the Fourth of July where we would have the alumni from East St. Louis, Assumption, Lincoln, Althoff and Belleville East and Belleville West.

“And I don’t mean just to have to have one. I mean one where we could raise money and give it to a worthwhile cause.”

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 10:52 PM with the headline "The “Wright’ message: Ex-East St. Louis Assumption star Eric Wright returns home."