Wilson helped raise his younger brother, with his father out of the house as a truck driver at times.
[14] His jersey number 7 has been permanently retired, and the Larry Wilson Sharpening the Axe Award is given annually to one offensive and one defensive player on the football team.
'"[9] After graduation in 1956, he played college football at the University of Utah, where he was a two-way starter at halfback and cornerback for the Utes under head coaches Jack Curtice and Ray Nagel.
[16] Despite his skill and adaptability, Wilson's small size (he was only six feet tall) resulted in him not being selected until the 7th round of the 1960 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals.
He was moved to safety by coach Frank "Pop" Ivy and defensive coordinator Chuck Drulis in the final preseason game, and Wilson made the team at that position.
This involved the safety rushing at the line of scrimmage instead of defending against the pass, in an attempt to sack or hit the quarterback before the ball was thrown.
[8][21][22] It also has been stated that, shortly before Wilson's signing, Drulis crafted a play that called for the free safety to take part in a blitz.
The play was code-named "Wildcat", but Drulis didn't think he had anyone with the skills and athleticism to run it until Wilson's arrival.
When the Cardinals first ran the safety blitz, the pressure was severe since most teams did not (and still do not) expect a defensive back to take part in a pass rush.
[18] Wilson is renowned for not only playing with, but intercepting a pass with casts on both hands due to broken wrists.
[32] Fellow Idahoan Jerry Kramer, a guard for the Green Bay Packers and author of Instant Replay, called Wilson "the finest football player in the NFL."
Kramer described Wilson's play during an October 30, 1967 game, "...he fired up their whole team ... (h)is enthusiasm was infectious.
"[33] On the September 18, 2006, edition of SportsCenter, Mike Ditka challenged Terrell Owens' toughness by not playing for 2–4 weeks due to a broken finger.
He cited Wilson's interception with casts on both hands as proof of a tougher football player.
[45] In 2020, his October 2, 1966 one-handed interception and 91 yard return for a touchdown was selected as one of the hundred greatest plays in NFL history.