Professional career

Wright earned All-Pro honors at defensive back in 1974 and 1976. His career consisted mostly of time as a defensive back

Defensive back

In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...

 with the great Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

 teams of the 1970s. He totaled 34 interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 156 professional games.

College career

He was an All-Conference player from two years at San Diego State University

San Diego State University

San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...

 after transferring from Monterey Peninsula College

Monterey Peninsula College

Monterey Peninsula College commonly called MPC is a public community college located in Monterey, California. Established in 1947, it is a part of the California Community Colleges system.-External links:*...

 before turning pro.

Personal

He was the defensive player who was covering Drew Pearson

Drew Pearson (American football)

Drew Pearson is a sportscaster and former American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.-Early years:...

 during the 1975 NFC Playoffs on the infamous Hail Mary pass

Hail Mary pass

A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....

 in the 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

 and Minnesota Vikings, played on December 28, 1975. Some observers and Viking players believed that Pearson pushed off on Wright, causing him to fall down and thus allowing Pearson to catch the pass from Roger Staubach and score the winning touchdown. However no penalty was called on Pearson.

Nate Wright's son, Nate Wright Jr. followed his father's footsteps to become a highly sought after running back out of Point Loma high school in San Diego. Nate Wright Jr. received a full athletic scholarship to play football for Rick Neuheisel, at the University of Colorado at Boulder as a corner back in 1997.

See also

• The Hail Mary (American football game)