Former Gators DB Major Wright Helps Others Overcome Obstacles In New Book
As one of the hardest-hitting safeties to suit up for the Florida Gators, Major Wright comes off of as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense, get up and go type of player and person. At least that's what one would think if you simply watch his highlights or games throughout his collegiate and professional career in the NFL.
A true Gator Great, Wright was tasked with the responsibility of replacing The Eraser, Reggie Nelson early on in his collegiate career, enrolling in Florida and starting seven games as a true freshman in 2007. Over his three seasons at Florida, Wright helped the Gators win a National Championship (2009), accumulating 165 tackles (111 solos), and eight interceptions before entering the 2010 NFL Draft.
It was in the National Championship game where Wright truly made his presence felt, laying a hit on then-Oklahoma wide receiver Manuel Johnson.
After being selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the NFL Draft, Wright would go on to play for seven seasons in the NFL - playing for only two teams, the Bears, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending four and three years with each team, respectively.
While Wright may not have been the most dominant player in football during his professional career, he was still one of the more reliable safeties before not being able to find the right fit, struggling during the latter portion of his career.
In the end, Wright tallied 331 tackles (244 solos), nine interceptions, and 22 passes defended.
Now, after being out of the NFL for nearly four years, Wright has gone in a bit of a different direction, putting the proverbial pen to paper, releasing a new book in which he hopes to inspire future generations with; Major Pain: Confessions of a Smash-Mouth Safety.
The premise of his book is to showcase his start from humbled beginnings to NFL stardom and all of the roadblocks that may have impacted him throughout life. something to be used to inspire any and all people.
"Whatever it is what you do, I don't care who you are, you've faced some type of obstacle in your life," Wright said via a video released by the Florida Gators on Twitter. "That's exactly what my book is for. It's for obstacles that we all face."
Wright had to overcome a great deal growing up, and once he reached the University of Florida, there was yet another obstacle in his way. He had to prove himself, he needed to start and was not going to go out without having his way, just as he has done throughout his journey in life.
"When Urban Meyer recruited me, it was just like 'look, you have a chance to become a star out of here', Reggie Nelson had just left ' we need another eraser'," said Wright. "The first day we put on shoulder pads and helmets - they hand the ball off to Chris Rainey. he [runs] downhill, I come downhill - that kinda set the tone of, to let everybody know, like 'listen, man, I'm here, and I'm here to start.'"
As stated earlier, Wright did start, although not right away, he would go on to make seven starts during his freshman season while finishing up with 35 throughout his career at Florida, starting all 28 games during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Throughout it all, Wright remains a major supporter of the Gators, truly believing the mantra of "once a Gator, always a Gator".
"That bond that you create while you at the University of Florida - it don't go nowhere -, we a family, and once you in this, you in it for life. It [doesn't] get better than that."
