By the end of the NFL offseason, hundreds of players are going to be without pro football jobs and many will have to change careers entirely. One player currently vying for a roster spot has decided to give up the fight and instead become an actor.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor revealed that rookie cornerback Ceyair Wright informed the team that he would be leaving in order to pursue an acting opportunity he was offered. Taylor wished him the best and lamented that he was leaving after competing hard and looking like an "ascending" player.
“I don’t know how to properly define it for him,” coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday. “He called us last night and let us know that he had an opportunity. I know it was a difficult decision for him. I think two things he’s really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity. So he’s a great kid, comes from a great university. And, you know, we wish him the best. He was fun to be around. He really competed hard for us. It was fun watching him play. I thought he was ascending as a player. But, obviously, he’s chosen to go a different path.”
From the Silver Screen to the Gridiron and Back
Wright is not some newbie to acting though. He's been doing it since he was a teenager and even has some very noteworthy credits to his name.
In 2021, he played LeBron James' fictional son Darius James in the movie Space Jam: A New Legacy. Per his IMDB page, he also has credits in several other projects including TV and short film.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
Wright didn't let opportunities in Hollywood dissuade him from pursuing a career in football at the time though. He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and committed to USC. Wright played three seasons for the Trojans before transferring to Nebraska at the end of the 2023 season.
Playing at Nebraska, Wright found no shortage of time on the field, appearing in all 26 games for the team over two seasons and logging 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 11 passes defended and two interceptions.
But his solid play at Nebraska didn't earn him an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine or much notice from the NFL at all. He joined the Bengals as a UDFA in May.
We wish Wright best in his acting career.
