Ceyair Wright, a rookie cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals, has left the team to pursue an acting career in Hollywood.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Wright had informed them of his decision to leave, describing it as "a difficult decision for him." Taylor added that Wright's passion for acting had collided with his football career, leading him to pursue this opportunity.
Wright had been acting since he was a kid, with his big break coming in 2021's "Space Jam: A New Legacy," where he played the older son of LeBron James. He filmed that role in 2019, while still in high school, and continued to balance his acting with his football career.
The 22-year-old cornerback played at USC for three seasons before transferring to Nebraska, where he spent two years as a Cornhusker. Wright signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in May.
Wright credited the grueling audition process with helping his football mindset, saying that it taught him to deal with mistakes and rejection. "One of the biggest lessons that I got from acting was learning to deal with mistakes and rejection," he told Yahoo Sports ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Wright will be available to play in the NFL again after filming for his new acting role wraps up in late October. However, it's unclear if he will return to the Bengals.
The team has signed rookie CB Matthew McDoom to replace Wright, who was placed on the Exempt/Left Squad list. Bengals fans may be wondering if Wright's departure marks the end of his football career, or if he will return to the team in the future.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expressed his wishes for Wright's success in his acting career, saying, "We wish him the best. He was fun to be around, he really competed hard for us. It was fun watching him play."
Source: Yahoo Sports