Jackie Wallace
No. 25, 20 | |||||||||
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Position: | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | St. Augustine (New Orleans, Louisiana) | ||||||||
College: | Arizona | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 1973 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Jackie Wallace (born March 13, 1951) is a former American college and professional football cornerback. He played college football at the University of Arizona from 1970 through 1972 and in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Colts, and Los Angeles Rams from 1974 through 1979, taking part in two Super Bowls with the Vikings and Rams.
Since the end of his NFL career, Wallace has periodically struggled with substance abuse and experienced bouts of homelessness. In 2014, he joined a class-action concussion lawsuit against the NFL. His whereabouts were unknown until November 2019 when NOLA did another article about him.
Early life
Wallace was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he lived in the St. Bernard Projects.[1]
Career
Wallace attended
The Minnesota Vikings selected Wallace in the second round, with the 34th overall pick, in the 1973 NFL draft.[3] Wallace played six professional seasons as a cornerback from 1974 through 1979. He spent his rookie season on the Vikings' practice squad, including Super Bowl VIII. He became a starter for the Vikings the next year, and started in Super Bowl IX.[1]
Wallace played for the
Post-football life
Out of the NFL, Wallace worked on an oil platform. The year after his football career ended, his mother died and he began to abuse alcohol and use crack cocaine. He has battled addictions to numerous drugs, including crack, alcohol, and heroin, throughout his life, and has disappeared for years at a time.[1]
In July 2017, Wallace disappeared again, having relapsed and returned to the streets.[1] In 2018, he regained sobriety and resumed contact with friends and family.[6]
In August 2020, photojournalist Ted Jackson released a biography of Wallace's life titled You Ought To Do A Story About Me. The two were interviewed by The Today Show, NPR's Weekend Edition and Access Hollywood detailing on how they met, became friends and eventually ended up collaborating on the book.
References
- ^ The Times-Picayune. New Orleans. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ The Tucson Citizen (Gannett Co. Inc.). Arizona. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ Steadman, John (October 17, 1990). "Ex-Colt Wallace is bridging gap back to society". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ "New Orleans Mission to close Saturday amid financial woes" (Page may require JavaScript). WDSU. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ Tomasson, Chris (June 2, 2014). "Former Vikings Super Bowl starter among those filing concussion suit against NFL". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Minnesota. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ISBN 978-0062935670.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference