Matthew Wright

Matthew Wright (born March 22, 1996) is an American professional football placekicker. Wright played college football for the UCF Knights where he was a member of the undefeated 2017 team that was selected as national champions by the Colley Matrix. Wright signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In 2020, he signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL before being released and being resigned by the Steelers. He has since been a member of 11 other NFL teams.

Early life Wright attended Lampeter-Strasburg High School in Lampeter, Pennsylvania.

In 2014, as a true freshman, Wright earned American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic Team honors. After graduating, Wright signed with GatNation, LLC who represented him as sports agents from March 2019 through July 2023.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers Wright was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL draft. He was waived on August 31, 2019, during final roster cuts.

Tampa Bay Vipers On October 16, 2019, Wright was selected by the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL in Phase 5 of the 2020 XFL draft. On January 22, 2020, he was released during training camp.

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint) On November 30, 2020, Wright was re-signed by the Steelers to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on December 7, December 26, and January 2, 2021, for the team's Weeks 13, 16, and 17 games against the Washington Football Team, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns, and reverted to the practice squad after each game. Wright was two-of-two on extra points against Washington, and made his first career field goal from 37 yards out. Wright finished the season having made all four of his field goal attempts, including a long of 46 yards, and all seven extra point attempts.

Detroit Lions On January 22, 2021, the Detroit Lions signed Wright to a reserve/futures contract.

Jacksonville Jaguars On September 27, 2021, Wright was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. On October 16, he was promoted to the active roster. On October 10, Wright got his first start in the Jaguars' Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. He went 0-for-1, missing a 53-yard field goal and 1-for-2 on extra points. On October 17, in an NFL International Series game played in London, England against the Miami Dolphins, Wright went 3-for-3 on field goals, including a career-long 54-yard field goal and a game-winning 53-yard field goal that snapped the Jaguars' 20-game losing streak and gave them their first win since September 13, 2020. For his performance, Wright was awarded AFC Special Teams Player Of The Week. On October 19, he was named the starter going forward as Jacksonville cut former starter, Josh Lambo, from their roster.

On May 11, 2022, Wright was waived by the Jaguars.

Kansas City Chiefs

Wright was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on September 27, 2022. He was elevated to the active roster on October 1, and then reverted back to the practice squad after the game. Wright was elevated again on October 10. In the Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, he broke what was at the time the Chiefs' franchise record for longest field goal with a 59-yard field goal.

Pittsburgh Steelers (third stint) On November 9, 2022, Wright was signed by the Steelers off the Chiefs practice squad. He was released on December 10.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint) Wright was signed to the Chiefs practice squad on January 6, 2023. That same day, he was elevated to the active roster via a standard elevation. However, Wright did not play and was inactive for the Chiefs' Week 18 matchup against the Raiders. He was released on January 30.

Carolina Panthers On August 8, 2023, Wright signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was waived on August 26.

San Francisco 49ers On September 4, 2023, Wright was signed to the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad, but was released five days later.

Atlanta Falcons On November 23, 2023, Wright was signed to the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. He was released five days later.

New England Patriots On November 30, 2023, Wright was signed to the New England Patriots' practice squad. He was released by New England on December 8.

Carolina Panthers (second stint) On January 2, 2024, Wright was signed to the Panthers practice squad. Wright was elevated to the active roster for Week 18, missing one 52 yard field goal attempt, his only attempt of the day, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before returning to the practice squad. Wright was not signed to a reserve/future contract and thus became a free agent at the end of the season upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.

Pittsburgh Steelers (fourth stint) On April 10, 2024, Wright signed with the Steelers. He was waived on August 26.

San Francisco 49ers (second stint) On October 8, 2024, Wright signed with the 49ers following an injury to starting 49ers kicker Jake Moody. On October 19, Wright was placed on injured reserve after injuring his shoulder and back in a Week 6 matchup against the Seahawks. Wright was released on November 15.

Kansas City Chiefs (third stint)

On November 26, 2024, Wright was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad following an injury to Spencer Shrader. He was signed to the active roster on December 4. Wright booted 4 field goals in a 19-17 victory in his first game back with the Chiefs. In his second game back, he went 4-for-4 on field goals, including the game-winner as time expired against the Los Angeles Chargers, helping the Chiefs clinch the AFC West. The game-winning 31-yard field goal hit the left upright before going in, prompting many to dub it "A Doink for the Division." Wright earned his second AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance. Wright was released on December 14 after Harrison Butker returned in Week 15, when the Chiefs faced the Cleveland Browns.

Tennessee Titans On December 26, 2024, Wright was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad following an injury to Nick Folk, and promoted to the active roster two days later. After making all three of his kicks in Week 17, he was waived on December 30. However, Wright was added back to the Titans' practice squad on January 1, 2025. He was elevated for the season closer and made both of his field goals once again.

Carolina Panthers (third stint) On February 11, 2025, Wright signed a reserve/futures contract with the Panthers. He was released on August 25.

Tennessee Titans (second stint) On October 8, 2025, Wright signed with the Tennessee Titans' practice squad. He was released by the Titans following the signing of Joe Bachie on October 17.

Washington Commanders

On October 27, 2025, Wright signed with the Washington Commanders' practice squad, and was elevated to active roster the same day for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs amid an injury to Matt Gay. In the game, he converted his only kick, an extra point attempt. Wright was released by the Commanders the following day.

Houston Texans On November 5, 2025, Wright signed with the Houston Texans' practice squad; he was later promoted to the active roster on November 8. On November 19, Wright was waived by the Texans.

Buffalo Bills On January 6, 2026, Wright signed with the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.

Career statistics

NFL Year Team GP Overall FGs PATs Kickoffs Points Blk Lng FGA FGM Pct XPA XPM Pct Blk KO TB 2020 PIT 3 0 46 4 4 100.0 7 7 100.0 0 15 1 19 2021 JAX 14 0 56 24 21 87.5 15 13 86.6 0 31 5 762022 KC 2 0 59 4 3 75.0 8 8 100.0 0 13 10 17 PIT 4 0 52 14 12 85.7 7 7 100.0 0 23 5 43 2023 CAR 1 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 1 1 02024 SF1 0 41 3 3100.033100.008112 KC 2 0 50 9 8 88.9 2 2 100.0 0 6 1 26 TEN 2 0 39 4 4 100.0 1 1 100.0 0 7 1 132025 TEN 1 0 46 1 1 100.0 3 3 100.0 0 10 0 6 WAS 1 0 - 0 0 - 1 1 100.0 0 2 0 1 HOU 2 0 43 4 4 100.0 2 2 100.0 0 10 0 4 Total 33 0 60 68 60 88.2 47 45 95.7 0 118 26 225

College

Personal life As a senior at UCF, Wright worked as an aerospace engineering intern at Lockheed Martin. Following his graduation from UCF in December 2018, Lockheed Martin offered Wright a full-time job with the company, which Wright accepted and worked until September 2021.