Wright arrives to right franchise

Jason Wright and the Washington Football Team shocked the sports world back in July as he became the NFL’s first Black president.

- Chris Russell

There were no rumors. Everyone knew they needed a president, but this was a shock. They carried out the arrangement in complete silence and announced the historic move on their morning show of choice, Good Morning America on ABC. They also chose to have coach Ron Rivera's cancer treatment update provided on the same program.

Wright, 38, a former NFL running back, had been working locally in the Northern Virginia area with a prominent consulting firm before he was chosen by Washington. Wright’s hire was partially driven by the NFL and the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which is run by his former general manager in Arizona, Rod Graves.

Jason Gomillion Wright is not your average former running back. He went to Northwestern, a school known much more for academics than athletics. He played with the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals during a seven-year career as an undrafted free agent. Imagine having that length of career in the NFL when nobody thought you were worthy enough to be drafted at a position that chews the human body up.