William Perry and the heaviest Super Bowl touchdown

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, where the best NFL teams face off for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. While the players on the field come from different backgrounds and skill sets, they all share the common goal of winning the big game. However, there is one player who stands out, not just for his talent, but also for his size.

William "The Refrigerator" Perry, who played for the Chicago Bears, was the heaviest player to ever score a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Perry weighed 335 pounds and was listed as a defensive tackle, but he was also used as a fullback on occasion. There were significant pregame discussions on whether he could score a touchdown.

Las Vegas oddsmakers introduced a new form of betting before Super Bowl XX. It entailed whether Perry would score a touchdown in the game. The bet type is what became known as a prop bet.

Perry was called upon to carry the ball, and he scored a touchdown, cementing his status as a fan favorite and his place in Super Bowl history.

Perry’s background and career

William Perry was born on Dec. 16, 1962, in Aiken, South Carolina. He played college football at Clemson University, where he was a dominant force on the defensive line. Perry's size and strength made him a top prospect for the 1985 NFL draft, where he was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 22nd pick.

Although defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan called Perry "a wasted draft pick" and refused to play him, Perry quickly became a fan favorite in Chicago, where he was known for his playful personality and infectious smile. He was also a dominant force on the field, helping one of the greatest defenses of all time as Chicago won the Super Bowl in 1986. Perry's touchdown in that Super Bowl was a testament to his versatility and his unmatchable impact on the sport.

Perry's NFL career lasted from 1985 to 1994, and he played for several different teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers in the NFL and London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. He left a lasting impact on the sport and remains a fan favorite to this day.

The touchdown’s place in history

William Perry will always be remembered for being part of one of the greatest moments and greatest teams in Super Bowl history. His feat as the heaviest player to ever score a touchdown in the Super Bowl may never be matched.

Perry's touchdown is remembered as one of the most iconic moments in Super Bowl history. It was a display of the Chicago Bears' creativity and ability to have fun on the field under coach Mike Ditka. Perry, who was used on offense somewhat out of the long feud between Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, had scored three touchdowns during the season.

The downside of the fun was that, in the Bears' 46-10 romp over the New England Patriots, legendary running back Walter Payton was denied a rushing score in his only Super Bowl appearance.

“I didn’t think about (making sure Payton got the ball),” Ditka said 40 years later. “It did not even cross my mind. It’s the biggest thing I regret in my life. ... I apologized to him (in the locker room after the game).

“I didn’t think it was that important. I really was worried about winning the football game, winning the Super Bowl. It never came to my mind. I made a gross mistake.”

Payton, who died in 1999, said immediately after the game that he wasn't upset, but he did months later as well as over the years.

''Que sera, sera,'' Payton said after the game, the Chicago Tribune reported. ''I felt bad, but that's the way the game goes. There have been other games when I haven't gotten into the end zone. That's the way the game is played. When they're keying on me, that opens it up for other people. I don't mind being the rabbit.''

The touchdown was a memorable moment for Bears fans, who saw their team win its only Super Bowl, and for NFL fans everywhere, who were entertained by Perry's touchdown. Perry's legacy as "The Refrigerator" will live on.