Jeff Wright
Defensive Line (1985-86)

Jeff Wright was born in San Bernardino California.  Wright attended high school in Lawrence KS where he excelled on the football field.  

 

Wright was a member of the 1985-86 Red Raven Football Team that went 10-2 under head coach Dick Foster while defeating Hutchinson and Butler in the state playoffs and ending the season with a 28-14 victory over Cisco in the Jayhawk Bowl.

 

After Coffeyville, Wright moved on to play as a Mule for the University of Central Missouri on the 1986 and 1987 teams.  Wright earned All-MIAA recognition both years earning All-MIAA First-Team in both 1986 and 1987 while being named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA in 1987.

 

Wright’s name is still on the record books at Central Missouri including ranking second among defensive linemen with 119 tackles in a season while at the nose guard position in 1987.  Wright was also the team leader in total tackles in 1987.  Wright’s 119 total tackles in 1987 also ranks him sixth overall in Mules history for total tackles in a season.  Wright’s total tackles for a loss (18) in a season in 1986 ranks 9th overall for Central Missouri history while his 17 total tackles for a loss in 1987 ranks 10th overall. 

 

Wright was selected in the eighth round (213th overall) in the 1988 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.  Wright was in the same draft class as running back Thurman Thomas.

 

With the Bills, Wright played a total of seven years (1988-1994) and played in a total of 98 games of which he started 67.  Wright recorded 31.5 sacks in his NFL career while starting in 13 playoff games including four AFC Championships and four consecutive Super Bowls (1991-94).

 

Wright currently lives in Scottsdale Arizona and his family includes his wife Melanie, a daughter Taylor, and two sons Logan and Sage.