Larry Tearry

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Larry Tearry
No. 54
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1956-04-24) April 24, 1956 (age 68)
Erwin, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: E. E. Smith
(Fayetteville, North Carolina)
College: Wake Forest (1974–1977)
NFL draft: 1978: 4th round, 109th pick
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:25
Games started:22
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Larry Wayne Tearry (born April 24, 1956) is an American former professional football center who played two seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 1978 NFL draft after playing college football at Wake Forest University.

Contents

Early life and college

Larry Wayne Tearry was born on April 24, 1956, in Erwin, North Carolina. [1] He played high school football at E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina as an offensive tackle. [1] [2] He was inducted into the Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame in 2017. [2]

Tearry was a four-year letterman for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University from 1974 to 1977. [1] He was an offensive tackle his freshman year but was moved to center as a sophomore. [3] He was named first-team All-ACC by the Associated Press as a senior in 1977. [4] Tearry was a team captain while at Wake Forest. [3] He also spent time writing poetry in college. [3]

Professional career

Tearry was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round, with 109th overall pick, of the 1978 NFL draft. [5] He officially signed with the team on June 15. [6] He played in 14 games, starting 12, for the Lions as a rookie in 1978. [5] Tearry appeared in 11 games, starting ten, in 1979 before being placed on injured reserve on November 16, 1979. [5] [6]

On April 6, 1980, Tearry was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 1980 fifth-round pick and a 1980 ninth-round pick. [7] [8] He was released on August 19, 1980. [6]

Tearry signed with the Miami Dolphins on July 20, 1981. [6] He was released on July 27, 1981, after he left the team during training camp. [9] [6]

Personal life

Tearry was later an assistant principal and athletic director at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Larry Tearry". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Batten, Sammy (March 8, 2017). "Quartet of hard hitters inducted to Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame". The Fayetteville Observer . Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Haas Bill (1977). "Camp Countdown: Larry Tearry's Poetry". Wake Forest University . Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Fuller, Six Tigers named to All-ACC". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. November 27, 1977. p. B1.
  5. 1 2 3 "Larry Tearry". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Larry Tearry Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Chiefs acquire center Tearry". Springfield Leader and Press . Associated Press. April 10, 1980. pp. 3D. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ Pulliam, Kent (April 12, 1980). "Better atmosphere gives new Chief life". The Kansas City Times . pp. E2. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Transactions". The Arizona Republic . July 28, 1981. pp. C3. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
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