Elmo Wright

Elmo Wright (born July 3, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Playing college football for the Houston Cougars, he became the first football player ever to perform an end zone dance. Wright was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft.

Early life Wright was born on July 3, 1949, in Brazoria, Texas. He attended Carver High School in Sweeny, Texas, where his team won two state football championships during his two years of play (1965-1966); the first year in a segregated school system, and the next year desegregated. He was an All-State player in high school. In the Bulldogs' 1966 championship season, Wright had 33 receptions for 780 yards (23.6 yards per reception), while scoring 82 points. He played three years on the varsity team (1968-1970), wearing number 23. As a sophomore he had 43 pass receptions for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns; as well as 113 yards rushing in only five attempts. His 27.2 yards per reception average led all of Division I college football, 2.7 yards per catch more than any other player. He was third in total receiving yards and tied for fourth in touchdowns, even though not in the top 18 for total receptions. Wright was named second-team All-American, and the Cougars ranked 12th at the end of the year. Houston defeated Auburn in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, 36–7.

As a senior, he had 47 receptions, for 874 yards, nine touchdowns and an 18.6 yards per receptions average; in the top 10 for touchdowns, and top 20 for total and average yards. The Cougars were ranked 19th in the nation at the end of the year.

His 111.6 career receiving yards per game were the second most in FBS history at the end of his career and still rank 12th all-time (as of 2020). Wright holds five Houston records: all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0); yards per reception in a season (27.9); yards per reception in a career (21.9); 200-yard receiving games in a season (2 each in 1968 and 1969); and 200-yard receiving games in a career (4). He also holds the school record with four touchdown receptions in a game. being as much a drum major strut as a dance, it was almost equally shocking at the time, being booed by the Florida fans as he high-stepped toward the endzone that very first time. There was also a racial component in negativity toward his celebrations when Houston played some of the southern universities. Other critics thought it expressed too much individuality for a military-like team sport. As a rookie, he started all 14 games, had 26 receptions for 528 yards (20.3 yards per catch), with three touchdowns and a career-long reception of 69 yards. A knee injury toward the end of the season was the beginning of a steep decline in Wright's play. He would have three knee surgeries during his shortened five-year career. In 1993, he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. In 2020, Wright was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Personal life After retiring, Wright worked in land development in the private and public sectors. He was a finance officer for Harris County, and became Chief of Staff to Harris County Commissioner Jim Fontino, working in his office for over two decades. During this time Wright obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business (MBA 1985). He subsequently mentored Bauer business students.