Hall of Fame
Felix Carl Wright was born on June 22, 1959 at Carthage, Missouri. While attending high school Wright played and lettered in three sports (baseball, shortstop; basketball, point guard; football, wide receiver and corner back). After graduating in 1977 he received a football scholarship to Drake University. Wright never missed a game during his four-year letter-winning career with the Drake Bulldogs. During his senior year he was the team captain and the school’s most valuable player. His favorite game was intercepting a pass and beating the Big Eight Colorado Buffaloes on their home field. At Drake Wright earned a B.A. degree in physical education and history in 1981.
Since he was not drafted by the National Football League (NFL) Wright utilized his education and returned to southwest Missouri. He began coaching in Joplin at Memorial High School. He taught physical education, history and coached football, girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ track. Fresh out of college Wright impressed the high school coaches as well as the players with his outstanding talent. The coaches goaded him into pursuing professional football, which led him to contacting sports agent Elliott Lehman. Lehman was the only agent that sent him a letter of interest following his college graduation.
He and his uncle, Tinkler Lounis, drove to Houston, Texas where the Houston Oilers were holding a tryout camp. Approximately 400 other players showed up for the two-day tryout. Wright was overwhelmed by the number of athletes present and felt their drive was of no value. However his uncle thought otherwise. He believed in his talented nephew and strongly persuaded him to stay. At the end of the camp only three names were announced and Wright was the second one called.
Wright went to training camp with the Oilers in 1981. On the last day of camp the Oilers released him. Two days later the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) called and offered him a job. After only two days of practice Wright played his first game as a professional. In that game he knew he belonged as a he intercepted a pass off quarterback Warren Moon. Wright played with the Hamilton team for two years and played in the CFL’s equivalent to the Super Bowl, the Grey Cup. In that game he had four interceptions. For his outstanding play Wright was selected to the 1984 CFL All-Star team while drawing considerable attention from the NFL.
He received six offers from NFL teams but chose the Cleveland Browns because they were the highest bidder. Wright joined the Browns in 1985 and broke into the starting line up in 1987. He had a breakout game on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. ON the nationally televised game Wright snared tow interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.
He led the Browns in interceptions with four in 1987 and went on to lead the team in picks in 1988, 1989 and 1990. In 1989 Wright had nine interceptions, including one for a touchdown. His two interceptions on another Monday night earned him the nickname of “Mr. Monday Night.” Wright had 26 interceptions during his six seasons with the Browns.
He departed Cleveland and played two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Later he joined head coach Marty Schottenheimer with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 1993 AFC Championship game. Wright retired after the 1993 season.
In 2989, he led the NFL with interceptions after switching from free safety to strong safety. One year earlier he was named American Football Conference Defensive Player of the Month for December and was awarded the Browns’ Defensive Player of the Year by the Cleveland Touchdown Club. In 1987 he earned a spot in the Browns’ record book with the second-highest interception return average (38.0) in club annals.
