Wheelwright in 1965 | |||||||
| No. 30, 39 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 28, 1939 Columbus, Ohio | ||||||
| Died: | May 1, 2001 (aged 61) Las Vegas, Nevada | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Columbus (OH) Central | ||||||
| College: | Southern Illinois | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com | |||||||
Ernest Lamour 'Wheels' Wheelwright (November 28, 1939 – May 1, 2001) was an American football player. He attended Southern Illinois University.
He had several careers but is chiefly remembered as an American football player who played as a running back for the New York Giants (1964–65), Atlanta Falcons (1966–67) and the New Orleans Saints (1967–70).
He was also an actor who appeared in a number of films including: The Longest Yard (1974), Trackdown (1976), The Greatest (1977) & Wildcats (1986). Immediately before he began his career as a running back he had served in the 101st Airborne Division(a.k.a. the Screaming Eagles).[1]
Ernie Wheelwright was also owner of one of Atlanta's premier nightclubs in the 1960s, the Pink Pussycat Club.[2] 'Wheels' hosted many visiting black artists and had the opportunity to cut a record 'Beggin You Back' for the local Gaye label owned by Johnny Brooks.[3][note 1] In 1970 the NFL asked Wheelwright, then with the New Orleans Saints, to sell his interest on the grounds that continuing ownership would bring the NFL into disrepute.[4]
Ernie Wheelwright died of cancer in Las Vegas on May 1, 2001, aged 61.
