Billy Waddy
No. 80, 88 | |
Born: | Wharton, Texas | February 19, 1954
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Died: | January 21, 2022 Minneapolis, Minnesota | (aged 67)
Career information | |
Position(s) | WR |
College | Colorado |
NFL draft | 1977 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50 |
Career history | |
As player | |
1977–1982 | Los Angeles Rams |
1984 | Minnesota Vikings |
Billy Waddy (February 19, 1954 – January 21, 2022) was professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings.
Waddy was a legitimate deep threat, who averaged 16.4 yards per catch over the course of his career. Relying on his speed and agility, Billy made big plays in one of the most significant games of his career—the Rams' shocking 21-19 upset of Dallas in the 1979 divisional playoffs, where he scored a game-winning 50-yard TD with less than two minutes to play.
Several weeks later, in Super Bowl XIV against Pittsburgh, the threat of him getting open deep down the field was a constant concern to the Steelers' defensive coaches—and for good reason, as he caught three passes for 75 yards, including a 50-yard completion from quarterback Vince Ferragamo. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Rams trailing 24-19, Waddy was wide open, streaking down the left side of the field on a play where the inexperienced Rams quarterback could not spot him, and threw an interception underneath in the middle of the field, essentially ending Los Angeles' chances in the 31-19 loss.[1][2]
He died in New Brighton, Minnesota, on January 21, 2022, at the age of 67.[3]
References[]
- ^ "Super Bowl XIV - Los Angeles Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 20th, 1980". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ Sabol, Steve. "Official Film of Super Bowl XIV". NFL Films. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Billy Waddy". Washburn McReavy. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- 1954 births
- 2022 deaths
- American football wide receivers
- Colorado Buffaloes football players
- Los Angeles Rams players
- Minnesota Vikings players
- People from Wharton, Texas
- Players of American football from Texas
- American football wide receiver, 1950s birth stubs