Benny Perrin

College career

Perrin played for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1978 through 1981. He was part of Alabama teams that won national titles at the end of the 1978 and 1979 seasons, contributing to a defense-oriented program that emphasized discipline and fundamentals. His collegiate experience established him as a reliable member of a strong secondary and helped prepare him for the professional ranks.

NFL career and playing style

After college Perrin played four seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football League from 1982 to 1985. As a safety he was responsible for pass coverage, run support and communication in the defensive backfield. Safeties like Perrin are expected to read opposing offenses, provide deep coverage against the pass and come up to tackle ball carriers when needed.

Later life and death

Following his football career, Perrin lived in Alabama. He died by suicide on February 3, 2017, in Decatur, Alabama, at the age of 57. His death was reported widely and drew attention to the challenges some former contact-sport athletes face after retirement, including mental health issues and questions about long-term effects of repeated head trauma.

Legacy and broader significance

Perrin is remembered as part of Alabama's championship teams and as a professional who reached the NFL. His passing helped renew public conversations about support systems for former players, resources for mental health, and research into chronic injuries associated with football. While each former athlete's circumstances are individual, incidents like Perrin's have contributed to ongoing calls for improved medical care, transition programs and awareness of post-career wellbeing among contact-sport participants.

• Key facts: college national champion (1978, 1979); played four NFL seasons (1982–1985).
• Position: safety — role includes deep pass coverage and run defense.
• Significance: part of Bear Bryant's late-1970s Alabama teams and subject of later discussions on athlete health.