Fearon Wright

Last updated

Fearon Wright
No. 59
Position Linebacker
Personal information
Born (1978-09-30) September 30, 1978 (age 47)
Jamaica
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school James J. Ferris (Jersey City, New Jersey)
College Rhode Island
NFL draft 2001: undrafted
Career history
Awards and highlights
  • AIFA champion (2010)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Fearon Kenroy Wright (born September 30, 1978) is a Jamaican-born former American football linebacker. He played college football at Rhode Island. Professionally, he played one season for the Minnesota Vikings in 2001 before a season ending injury. He made a comeback to pro football with the American Indoor Football Association in 2008.

Contents

Early life and college career

Born in Jamaica, Wright emigrated to the U.S. with his mother at age 13. [1] Wright graduated from James J. Ferris High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. [2]

Wright began his college football career at the junior college level at Dean College, where he was the leading tackler with 68 tackles and honorable mention all-conference in 1998. [2] Wright transferred to the University of Rhode Island, where he played for the Rhode Island Rams at defensive end from 1999 to 2000. [3] In 1999, Wright had 24 total tackles, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflected. [2] A team co-captain in 2000, Wright started all 11 games and had 76 tackles, including a team leading 14 tackles for loss. He also had seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three passes deflected. [3]

Pro career

After the 2001 NFL draft, Wright signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 31, 2001, as a linebacker. [3] Playing mostly on special teams, Wright had two tackles in seven games. [4] However, Wright had a season ending shoulder injury and was placed on injured reserve in November; the Vikings eventually released Wright on February 21, 2002. [1] [5] Wright retired from football after being released. [1]

In 2008, Wright returned to pro football with the Carolina Speed of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). [1] He then played for the Baltimore Mariners from 2009 to 2011, winning the AIFA championship in 2010, before playing for the Harrisburg Stampede in 2012. [6] [7]

Outside of football

Wright has also been a motivational speaker. [8] He and Baltimore Mariners teammate Isaiah Grier made guest appearances on The Steve Wilkos Show episode "Teen Boys in Trouble" aired on April 15, 2010, talking teenage boys against joining a gang. [9] [10] Wright then appeared on the Wilkos episode "I'm Black, But I Want To Be White" in 2011. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Carr, Kaitlyn (July 5, 2010). "Mariners' Wright gives back off gridiron". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Fearon Wright". University of Rhode Island. Archived from the original on March 29, 2005. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fearon Wright". Minnesota Vikings. Archived from the original on February 5, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Fearon Wright". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Roster Moves". Minnesota Vikings. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Baltimore Mariners' D Claws Lions". AIFA. May 24, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2020– via Our Sports Central.
  7. ↑ "Former NFL and Rhode Island Stand-Out Fearon Wright Signs with Stampede". AIFA. December 18, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ "About". February 11, 2010.
  9. ↑ The Steve Wilkos Show (March 6, 2013). "Teen Boys In Trouble". YouTube. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Steve Wilkos Show | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  11. ↑ "Video". www.youtube.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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