Linebacker Al Wilson, sidelined with a neck injury since the end of the 2006 season, retired from the NFL on Wednesday.
The five-time Pro Bowler played his entire career with Denver, which drafted him out of Tennessee with the 31st overall pick in 1999.
Wilson was the undisputed leader in the locker room for the Broncos.
Wilson has also been credited as being the emotional leader when the Vols won the 1998 national championship.
"I thank all my fans from my high school and college days in Tennessee on into my time in the NFL and Denver for their continued love and support throughout the years," Wilson told jocklife.com. "I was truly blessed to play the game I love and I am forever grateful to those that believed and entrusted in me. Playing for my fans and my teammates made the game of football everything to me."
The 31-year-old Wilson finished his career with 21½ career sacks and five interceptions.
“He meant so much to this organization,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “I really enjoyed all the years he spent with us — hate to see him go. He gave it everything he had every day.”
Wilson hurt his neck running into a teammate on a tackle against Seattle on Dec. 3, 2006. He had to be carted off the field, the crowd giving him an ovation and chanting his name. He was released after the season.
The Cleveland Browns talked with Wilson about returning to the NFL in March, after he was cleared by doctors to resume playing. But talks fell through.
“He was a great player and a great friend,” linebacker D.J. Williams said. “Al loved the game. Not only that, he loved his teammates.”
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Comments » 125
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Can anyone say LB COACH?
jandjhome#228397 writes:
I will always give him the credit for leading us to the National Championship. We sure could use his leadership now.
1manningfan writes:
thanks Wilson for all the great memories and bringing a championship to the Hill!!!
CoastGuardVol writes:
I remember watching him on the sidelines during the 1998 championship, He was the man and without his prescence we may not have finished like we did. I agree with you jm, certainly we could use his knowledge on our team again. GO VOLS!!
joebomb writes:
Who didn't love Al?!? Hey Hamilton, make yourself useful and go talk to him about becoming a coach for the Orange and White.
htnelson#345005 writes:
They should retire his number at the Bama or UF game.
I started following the Vols in '68. Al was the best, even better than Curt Watson or Larry Seivers or Conredge.
Who can forget his performance at the '98 UF game? Four forced fumbles, I believe.
Waldorf writes:
Fulmer -
Call him tomorrow. Bring him in as a grad assistant tomorrow. Do whatever you have to do.
eduardo writes:
Yeah especially since he was the coach of the '98 national championship team!
cobbwebb writes:
make this guy a coach (preferrably lbs) asap! his leadership, attitude, and toughness could be very helpful to this program ,whether he could even coach or not! #27 will live on in TENNESSEE history forever!
BillVol writes:
Want to echo what everybody else has said. We need to contact Al -- not the other way around -- and find a way to get him involved with our program.
cobbwebb writes:
fulmer shoulda been in englewood colo. and as soon as the press conf. was over offered him a position on the spot!
cobbwebb writes:
i bet players would be held accountable for sure if this guy were on the staff!
cobbwebb writes:
fulmer could create a new defensive coaching position for him "defensive enforcer"
Need_2_Know writes:
I agree with everyone else here. Al Wilson is the epitome of what a Tennessee player should be. He had some talent, yeah, and he had some strength, OK, but he has the heart and soul of a lion on the plains, and I'd be darn sure he didn't pass up coaching because UofT couldn't make a roster spot for him!
jdpvol writes:
call him, call now enuff said.
Smallmike4pres writes:
This is a sad, sad day for football. In my opinion this is the greatest VOL of all time. No one player has ever had as much of an impact as Al Wilson had on that '98 team. The fat one should send Al half his paycheck each year, since Al made it possible for him to live off of that championship this long.
cobbwebb writes:
smallone i agree, put this guy up there with the doug atkins', reggie whites', and bob suffridges' of tenn football, but put him at the front of the list!
jaxvol75 writes:
Al was a tough customer. I was just a couple of years ahead of him in college(i.e.Ole Miss, but I'm a Vol). He and some of his contemporaries made my college years as a Tennessee fan something special. He is all about heart. I bet you it took alot of courage to step down from football. He would be a truly(and much needed) addition to the U.T. family.
We'd be 1-0 right now if he'd been around. Go Vols!
kb7398#233189 writes:
Man that really stinks for Al's career to end like that. He's definitely one of my favorite Vols of all time.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Al Wilson was a man among youngsters while wearing our beloved Orange and White. Bring him home as a coach ASAP!
Frank in Manchester
MANVOL writes:
Manvol Says: Badest dude since Hacksaw reynolds.
budrhon writes:
Hire him now before someone else does!
FWBVol writes:
Kosmo, as great as Al Wilson was, he can't teach leadership. That's something nobody cab teach. Leadership is something a person is born with and then must aspire to.
I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but I'd rather have a 3-star recruit that is a leader than a 5-star that isn't. In Al Wilson we got a player that was both a 5-star and a leader.
CoverOrange writes:
Okay, who gets kicked off the island to make room for Al?
Chavis teaches LBs and is pretty well known for it. Do you expect Al to step in as DC? Or fire Chavis and promote Slade or Atkins to DC?
Grad Assistants are gofers and are gone when they get their masters.
redneckerson writes:
TF, you make a place for somebody like Al Wilson!!!
VOLS85 writes:
You're a Tennessee legend, Al. Thanks for everything.
MillisaAnn writes:
I love you AL and wish you the best!!!
Please come back to UT and be a coach we need you!!!
cltvol writes:
Maybe not a widely known fact, but Al was an accomplished boxer in high school. Good boxers fear no civilians, no matter what size. I guarantee that lack of fear carried all the way thru his career. I hope he has saved his money, his injuries are not painful, and he enjoys his non football days for a long time.
britt writes:
Bring Al home. We should announce his hiring and # retiring in one big press conference.
Blue_Smokey writes:
I have noticed that a lot of Tennessee football teams have a lack of motivation. It's like they'll play just hard enough for the win. Sometimes it seems they wait for a teammate to make "the play". Often times they wait too long. The only time I can remember when motivation wasn't a problem were the years Al Wilson roamed the field and sidelines. I think it would be wonderful if UT had an assistant lb coach, Al Wilson. I believe he would solidify the talent at UT with a winning attitude, his.
DemocratVol writes:
I watched this man play since his days back in high school in Jackson.
He used to come to a club that I DJ'd at when he came home on some weekends. Always the nicest guy. He liked the wet T-shirt contests too!
MemphisVol writes:
AL Wilson: One of the greatest Tennessee Volunteers of all time!!! Come back home Al! We need you!
FWBVol writes:
RichRollin, I agree, Al and Peyton on staff is a nice thought. And while I don't think it's a stretch to see Wilson coaching, I have to wonder if Peyton, for all of his football knowledge and savvy would make a good coach. I think he would get too upset with players that didn't put as much into the game as he did.
newtonrail writes:
OK. Everyone is happy reading about retirement of great lineback, but can't read about 20yr Asst Coaches who've moved on. Go figure.
newtonrail writes:
Make that linebacker. Should proof better.
utchris writes:
Thanks Al!
wildberry14 writes:
al wilson for defensive coordinator
chucker6 writes:
May God Bless You in retirement Al Wilson as you have blessed football fans in your years at UT and Denver. I've been watching UT football since 1957 and you are right up there in my favorite book with Mike Lucci, Paul Naumoff, Dick Evey and Reggie White. You epitomize hard work, 110% effort at all times, and never say die spirit. You could fulfill a lot of our wishes if you would consider bringing that same spirit back to UT in some capacity. Whatever you do next, enjoy!
BallantyneVol writes:
Al congrats on a great career and Vol fans will be forever indebted to you!!
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
I think we have our new Defensive Coordinator
orangeblood writes:
Please God, Al, become a coach at ut...
orangesox writes:
Classy guy to thank UT fans. Truth is, we should be the ones doing the thanking. His contributions to the 98 team are legendary, at least in my mind. And it's not like he was a slouch at the NFL level either. I also agree he would make a great LB coach. Who better to teach youngsters how to play the position than someone who played it the right way himself. Good luck to you #27.
MrBamSeydu writes:
best LB to ever wear the orange and white
gnm53108 writes:
Thanks Al.
Would like to see you back in K-Town.Would LOVE to see you back in orange,on the field,sidline,pressbox,admin,whatever.
You will always be a part of the VOL family.
Goosfraba writes:
Thanks Al, your truly one of the greatest to ever play linebacker here at UT. We could always use you now as a Def. Co.!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
He led the 1998 will-to-win. Should pay him $2.2M for it.
zbbb10#212690 writes:
baddest mofo ever. nuff said.
GreerVol22 writes:
Some where Al is reading this stuff and saying...."Al Wilson Defensive Coordinator" ...."that right there is funny".
Goodvol writes:
I would love to see Al make it back to UT. We need his fire and passion. We also need the players to fear the repercussions of not listening to Al. That had a lot to do with our NC.
BIGEJ writes:
Just an observation...Chavis was the defensive coordinator and LB coach when Wilson, Little, Simon, Thompson, Mayo, etc...were so great.....so entwined in all of these blogs is the rhetoric.....players ALso need to step up and give it their all for Tennessee today also...not just coaches and bloggers...I say GO VOLs
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