Wright attended Lampeter-Strasburg High School in Lampeter, Pennsylvania.[1] As the placekicker on Lampeter-Strasburg's football team, he finished his high school kicking career making 15 of 18 attempted kicks, including 9 of 11 as a senior, with a high school career-long of 42 yards.[1] Wright also converted 122 of 126 extra point kicks in his high school career.[1] He was named to the Pennsylvania Football News Class AAA First-team and a Section Two First-team All-Star (as a punter and placekicker).[1] Coming out of high school, Wright was a three-star college kicking prospect and the #46 kicker nationally as ranked by ESPN.[1]
Wright holds the UCF Knights Football records for most career points (375), most field goals made (55), most extra points (PATs), (212, including 153 consecutive made PATs), tied for the best career kicking percentage (.774), and second-best career PAT percentage (.985).[1]
Wright was redshirted his true freshman season before going on to be the Knights primary placekicker for the next four seasons.[1][4]
In 2015, as a redshirt freshman, Wright made 13 of 17 field goal attempts (.765) with a long of 48 yards while recording one tackle.[1]
In 2016, as a redshirt sophomore, Wright became one of just 11 Knights ever to make a 50-yard field goal attempt.[1] Making 17 of 22 field goal attempts (.772) (50-yard long) during the 2016 season, Wright's .773 kicking percentage placed seventh all-time in UCF football history for single season kick percentage.[1] Wright was named to the 2016-17 American All-Academic Team.[1]
Entering his redshirt junior season in 2017, Wright was named to the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list (best placekicker in college football). He also handled kickoff specialist duties during the season.[1] Following Wright's performance against the Memphis, Wright was named the American Special Teams Player of the Week. In the Knights' game versus Austin Peay, he set the UCF single-game extra points record (10).[1] On January 1, 2018, Wright made two field goals against the Auburn in the Peach Bowl as the Knights finished their season 13-0. After the victory, the school announced they would claim a National Championship despite not making the College Football Playoff and never being ranked higher than 10th.[1] Wright finished the 2017 season making 13 of 18 field goal attempts (.722) with a long of 47 yards.[1] With his 2017 season performance, Wright set the UCF Knights single-season record for most kicking points scored (119), the second-most points scored in a season, and the most extra points in a season (80).[1] Wright earned Second-team All-AAC honors.[1]
In 2018, Wright again served as both UCF's placekicker and kickoff specialist. In back-to-back weeks following the Knights' games against Memphis and East Carolina University, Wright was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week.[1] Wright finished the season converting 12 of 14 field goal attempts (.857) with a long of 46 yards.[1] In successfully converting all 74 PATs, Wright became only the eighth player in UCF program history to make every PAT in a season.[1] Wright ended the season with a 58.3-yard kickoff average, including 29 touchbacks, with two tackles and a fumble recovery.[1] Wright earned AAC Second-team honors for his 2018 senior kicking efforts.[1]
Wright also earned the University of Central Florida's most prestigious honor, the Order of the Pegasus Award, for exemplary performance in "academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership, and community service."[1][5][6] After graduating, Wright signed with GatNation, LLC who represented him as sports agents from March 2019 through July 2023.
On October 16, 2019, Wright was selected by the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL in Phase 5 of the 2020 XFL Draft.[10] On January 22, 2020, he was released during training camp.[11]
Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)
On November 30, 2020, Wright was re-signed by the Steelers to their practice squad.[12] He was elevated to the active roster on December 7, December 26, and January 2, 2021, for the team's weeks 13, 16, and 17 games against the Washington Football Team, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[13][14][15] Wright was two-of-two on extra points against Washington, and made his first career field goal from 37 yards out. Wright finished the season having made all four of his field goal attempts, including a long of 46 yards, and all seven extra point attempts.[16]
On January 18, 2021, following the season, Wright's practice squad contract with the team expired.[17]
Detroit Lions
On January 22, 2021, the Detroit Lions signed Wright to a reserve/futures contract.[16] On August 10, 2021, the Lions waived Wright.[18]
Jacksonville Jaguars
On September 27, 2021, Wright was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[19] On October 16, 2021, he was signed to the Jaguars' active roster.[20]
On October 10, 2021, Wright got his first start in the Jaguars' Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. He went 0/1, missing a 53-yard field goal and 1/2 on extra points.
On October 17, 2021, in an NFL International Series game played in London, England against the Miami Dolphins, Wright went 3/3 on field goals, including a career-long 54-yard field goal and a game-winning 53-yard field goal that snapped the Jaguars' 20-game losing streak and gave them their first win since September 13, 2020.[21] For his performance he was awarded AFC Special Teams Player Of The Week.[22] On October 19, 2021, Wright was named the starter going forward as Jacksonville cut former starter, Josh Lambo, from their roster.[23]
On May 11, 2022, Wright was waived by the Jaguars.[24]
Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)
Wright in 2022
Wright was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on September 27, 2022.[25] He was elevated to the active roster on October 1, and then reverted back to the practice squad after the game.[26] Wright was elevated again on October 10. In the Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, he broke what was at the time the Chiefs' franchise record for longest field goal with a 59-yard field goal.[27]
Pittsburgh Steelers (third stint)
On November 9, 2022, Wright was signed by the Steelers off the Chiefs practice squad.[28] He was released on December 10, 2022.[29]
Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)
Wright was signed to the Chiefs practice squad on January 6, 2023.[30] That same day, he was elevated to the active roster via a standard elevation. However, Wright did not play and was inactive for the Chiefs' Week 18 game against the Raiders.[31] He was released on January 30, 2023.[32]
Carolina Panthers (first stint)
On August 8, 2023, Wright signed with the Carolina Panthers.[33] He was waived on August 26, 2023.[34]
San Francisco 49ers
On September 4, 2023, Wright was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, but was released five days later.[35][36]
Atlanta Falcons
On November 23, 2023, Wright was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.[37] He was released on November 28.[38]
New England Patriots
On November 30, 2023, Wright was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.[39] He was released on December 8.[40]
Carolina Panthers (second stint)
On January 2, 2024, Wright was signed to the Panthers practice squad.[41] Wright was elevated to the active roster for Week 18, missing one 52 yard field goal attempt, his only attempt of the day, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to the practice squad.[42] He was not signed to a reserve/future contract and thus became a free agent at the end of the season upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.[43]
Pittsburgh Steelers (fourth stint)
On April 10, 2024, Wright signed with the Steelers.[44] He was waived on August 26.[45]
San Francisco 49ers (second stint)
On October 8, 2024, Wright signed with the 49ers following an injury to starting 49ers kicker Jake Moody.[46] On October 19, Wright was placed on injured reserve after injuring his shoulder and back in Week 6 matchup against the Seahawks.[47] He was released on November 15.
Kansas City Chiefs (third stint)
On November 26, 2024, Wright was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad following an injury to Spencer Shrader.[48] He was signed to the active roster on December 4. [49] Wright booted 4 field goals in a 19-17 victory in his first game back with the Chiefs.[50] In his second game back, he hit 4–of–4 kicks, including the game winner as time expired against the Chargers which helped the Chiefs clinch the AFC West.[51] The game winning 31-yard field goal hit the left upright before going in, which caused many to title it "A Doink for the Division."[52] Wright was awarded his second AFC Special Teams Player Of The Week because of his performance.[53] He was later released on December 14, 2024.
As a senior at UCF, Wright worked as an aerospace engineering intern at Lockheed Martin.[54] Following his graduation from UCF in December 2018, Lockheed Martin offered Wright a full-time job with the company, which Wright accepted and worked until September 2021.[54][55]
Related Research Articles
Donte Rakeem Moncrief is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Christopher Lynn Boswell is an American professional football placekicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice and was signed by the Houston Texans in 2014 as an undrafted free agent and has also spent time with the New York Giants. He is currently the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history on field goal attempts of 50 yards or more.
Holden Fortunato "Zane" Gonzalez is an American professional football kicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, finishing as the NCAA Division I leader in field goals made at the time prior to being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was a unanimous All-American and won the Lou Groza Award in 2016.
Norman Henry Price II is a former gridiron football offensive guard. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.
Phillip "P. J." Walker Jr. is an American professional football quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Temple, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. He also played for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns before it suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthony Miller is an American professional football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis.
Ryan Santoso is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Minnesota. He has been a member of the Detroit Lions, Montreal Alouettes, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Antonio Brahmas.
Greg Joseph is a South African professional football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Joseph has also been a member of several other NFL teams, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings.
Matthew McCrane is an American professional football placekicker for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also played for the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Guardians, and Cleveland Browns.
Terry Dave Wright is an American football wide receiver for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Purdue.
Chase Joseph McLaughlin is an American professional football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Since joining the NFL in 2019, McLaughlin has been a member of nine teams, including second stints for two organizations.
Joseph David Slye is an American professional football placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2019. Slye has also been a member of the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He holds the Commanders franchise record for longest field goal at 61 yards. He also holds the Patriots record for longest field goal at 63 yards.
Nathan Malik Meadors is an American professional football safety for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at UCLA.
Elliott Goering Fry is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina. He has been a member of the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, and Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
Alexander Myres is an American football cornerback. He played college football for Division II program Ouachita Baptist before transferring to the University of Houston.
Christian Kuntz is an American professional football long snapper for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Duquesne.
Samuel Cole Sloman is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Miami University, and in 2019 he made 86.7% of his field goal attempts. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, and has also played for the Tennessee Titans.
Saivion Smith is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Alabama.
Luqman Barcoo is an American professional football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at San Diego State University, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. He was the first defensive player drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Matt Ammendola is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football at Oklahoma State. After college, he signed with the Carolina Panthers, but later signed and played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans after going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
