William "The Refrigerator" Perry Has Survived a Difficult Post-Football Life by Kyle Dalton on April 18, 2020 When the Chicago Bears picked William "The Refrigerator" Perry from Clemson in the first round of the 1985 NFL selection, there were great expectations. Perry did not disappoint, quickly becoming a household name. The 5' 11", 200-pound running back from Rock Hill, South Carolina rushed for 1,178 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first season with the Bears. He also returned kicks and played defense after starting out as a backup to Brian Piccolo during training camp. After one season, the Bears decided to give their top running back job to Perry. However, he was soon replaced by Thomas Jones after injuring his knee early in a game against the New York Giants. Jones would go on to have a very successful career with the Bears, finishing with 4,928 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns. Perry finished with 3,305 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns, and an additional 233 receiving yards and two scores through seven seasons with the Bears. At the end of the 2008 season, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his time in Chicago, Perry became good friends with quarterback Jay Cutler. When Cutler was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2014, he brought Perry with him. The duo helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs each year they were together before Perry was released at the end of 2015.