Owen Wright Bio
Owen Wright (born February 28, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the William & Mary Tribe and later for the Monmouth Hawks before entering the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent. Wright has built his early career on perseverance, moving between practice squads and active rosters with multiple organizations since 2023.
A native of Maryland, Wright came to professional football through the Colonial Athletic Association and the Big South, earning conference recognition as a senior at William & Mary. His path from a prep school prospect in the Washington, D.C. suburbs to a National Football League roster reflects steady production and a willingness to compete for a role on every team he has joined.
Early Life and Background
Owen Wright was born on February 28, 1999, in Bethesda, Maryland, and grew up in the same community. He attended Georgetown Preparatory School, where he developed as a running back under the program’s competitive schedule. Over the course of his high school career, Wright totaled 2,078 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry across his seasons with the Hoyas.
As a junior at Georgetown Prep, Wright earned first-team All-IAC and second-team all-state recognition. The following season, he was named second-team All-IAC as a senior. Although he entered the recruiting process as an unranked running back, his production drew interest from FCS programs, and he committed to play college football at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Path to American Football
Wright joined William & Mary as a member of the 2017 recruiting class and was redshirted during his true freshman season. In 2018, he appeared in all 10 games, finishing the year with 117 rushing yards on 45 carries, a workload that ranked him third on the team. He also contributed in the return game, ranking sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association in yards per return at 22.9.
During the 2019 season, Wright appeared in all 12 games and started six of them, finishing the year with 584 rushing yards on 138 carries and five touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He also added 13 receptions for 97 yards as a receiving option out of the backfield. After the 2020 season, in which his playing time was limited to a single game against Richmond, Wright announced his decision to transfer to Monmouth University, where he would finish his collegiate career with a breakout senior campaign.
Owen Wright Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Wright’s development began in earnest at William & Mary, where he progressed from a redshirt freshman to a six-game starter by his junior year. His 2019 season represented his first sustained workload at the FCS level, and his production in the return game signaled the kind of special-teams value that would later help him reach the National Football League. The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting Wright to a season-opening appearance against Richmond in which he rushed for 28 yards on nine carries.
Following that campaign, Wright chose to use his remaining eligibility as a graduate transfer, announcing his move to Monmouth. The decision positioned him for a featured role in a more run-oriented offense and set the stage for his most productive collegiate season.
Monmouth Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Wright arrived at Monmouth in 2021 and appeared in all 11 games, starting one of them. He finished the season with 91 carries for 370 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while also adding seven receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown as a pass catcher. The season provided a foundation for a larger role the following year and helped him establish himself within the Hawks’ offensive system.
His senior season in 2022 marked the high point of his collegiate career. Wright played in all 11 games at running back and on special teams, carrying the ball 72 times for 304 rushing yards while finding the end zone 16 times on the ground. He added two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown, finishing the year as one of the most productive rushers in the conference. His performance that season earned him first-team All-CAA recognition, a notable honor for a transfer who had joined the program only two years earlier.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2023–2024)
Wright declared for the 2023 NFL Draft but went unselected, and on April 29, 2023, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. His first professional opportunity was short-lived, as he was waived on August 29, 2023, but he returned to the organization on the practice squad two days later. On October 28, 2023, Wright was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, marking his first appearance on a 53-man NFL roster in the regular season.
On January 29, 2024, Wright signed a reserve/future contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signaling a change of organization and a new opportunity in a different offensive scheme. He was later placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, which limited his availability heading into that regular season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2025–Present)
On July 31, 2025, Wright signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining the team ahead of training camp. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, but he returned to the organization on October 7, 2025, when he was re-signed to the practice squad. On November 14, 2025, Wright was promoted to the active roster, providing depth in the Buccaneers’ backfield late in the season. He was waived on November 29 and re-signed to the practice squad, continuing his role within the organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wright’s most notable collegiate milestone came in 2022, when he earned first-team All-CAA honors after scoring 16 rushing touchdowns for Monmouth. His first appearance on an NFL active roster occurred on October 28, 2023, with the Baltimore Ravens, and he has since split time between the active roster and the practice squad with Tampa Bay as he works to establish a longer-term role in the league.
Owen Wright Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Owen Wright is the grandson of the late Brig Owens, a former Washington Redskins safety who played in the National Football League during the 1960s and early 1970s. The family connection to professional football provides a clear lineage to the league, even though Wright himself entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent rather than through a direct family pathway in football operations.
Personal Life
Wright grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, the same community where he was born, and attended Georgetown Preparatory School. Public details about his personal life beyond his upbringing and family football connection are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Owen Wright’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad and active roster. After signing with the Buccaneers on July 31, he was waived in late August as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the practice squad on October 7. His promotion to the active roster on November 14 gave him another opportunity to contribute late in the regular season, before he was waived on November 29 and returned to the practice squad once again.
The pattern of promotions and practice-squad stints reflects the typical path of a young running back competing for a depth role in a crowded backfield. Wright’s prior experience on the active roster with the Baltimore Ravens, combined with his first-team All-CAA season at Monmouth, has positioned him as a dependable option for Tampa Bay when injuries or game plans create opportunities. His familiarity with special-teams work, a staple of his college profile, has also been a factor in his continued movement between rosters.
Looking ahead, Wright’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on establishing a more permanent role with the Buccaneers. With a reserve/future contract signed in early 2024 and a return to Tampa Bay in 2025, he has remained within the same organization and built continuity with the coaching staff. If he can convert his practice-squad experience into a longer stretch on the active roster, he will have a chance to compete for a feature role in the team’s running back rotation heading into 2026.