Giving Back to the Game
Brooks Rasmussen
Anything can happen in the blink of an eye. As cliche as that sounds, you can never truly know what audibles life will throw at you. But everything happens for a reason, right? When things come to an end, there’s a new beginning somewhere for everybody.
Willie Wright, a Houston, Texas native, was a star tackle at Tulsa whose dream was to play in the NFL. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns gave Wright a chance to make that dream a reality.
After signing with the Browns, Wright spent the entire NFL season on the practice squad before signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2020 season. Wright was activated to the active roster by the Falcons during week 14 of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers before rejoining the practice squad for the remainder of the season. After being waived in August of 2021 by the Falcons, he signed a contract at the end of the 2021 season with the Chicago Bears and remained with them through late July 2022. Between August and December of 2022 Wright split time with the Tennessee Titans and then the Las Vegas Raiders before being released on December 27.
Wright was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas during the 2023 XFL Draft. He was a third-round pick in phase four of the draft that covered the offensive line.
After Wright endured the Brahmas’ training camp, he found himself soaking in the reality of his dreams coming true. When he stepped on the field for snap number one, he was a starter for a professional football team. In a game that was supposed to signify a career milestone, things came to an abrupt halt when he experienced a career-ending injury on the 12th snap of the game. Wright had broken his fibula and tore multiple ligaments in his ankle.
“After I had surgery and was going through rehab, I thought that it might be over full time,” Wright said. “It was at that moment I kind of had to figure things out and make a pivot.”
Unsure of what his future in football looked like, Wright reached out to a professor from Tulsa who was now a professor at UCF. Wright earned dual master’s degrees from UCF in Sport Business Management and Business Administration.
With a true passion for helping others and being a resource to those that need it, Wright found an open role at Boise State that offered exactly that: assistant director of student-athlete development.
“Immediately after graduating, I was looking for roles in player development,” said Willie Wright. “I just wanted to have an impact in the lives of student-athletes.”
Not knowing anybody at Boise State, Wright picked up and moved with a lot of uncertainty of what was to come.
He was no stranger to meeting new people and being a light in every room he walked into, which led him to fit in very well with the Broncos. Everybody quickly learned who Willie Wright was.
Wanting to be a little more involved with football, Wright created time in his schedule to be a resource for the Bronco football team. After two successful seasons, including back-to-back Mountain West Conference championships, a College Football Playoff appearance and a Heisman Trophy Finalist season performance from Ashton Jeanty, he was eager to give back.
“In the grand scheme of things, I really just want to be an extended resource for what they need off the field,” said Wright. “I’m not a coach. I don’t handle X’s and O’s. Coach D, our coordinators - they all handle those things.”
In Wright’s role off the field, he has the opportunity to not only be a resource for student-athletes but to give back to the community and provide opportunities to programs to be a part of something bigger than competing.
A prime example of Wright’s availability as a resource for the football program is during away games. The players that stay back will often meet with Wright for about an hour to make sure they still feel like they have a purpose to be here as an athlete but also as a person.
“When the team is away, I have the guys for about an hour,” Wright said. “Really just talking about life, talking ball to a certain extent, but mainly to keep them encouraged and understanding that just because they’re not traveling they still have a lot of importance to the team.”
Oftentimes he will take them to do something other than football on those weekends to get some version of a mental reset. They’ll go do different things like paintballing, haunted houses or other fun activities to keep them engaged and to understand their purpose.
Boise State’s BroncoLife program is something Wright is heavily involved with that is focused on the development of the whole student-athlete.
Bronco football defensive back Demetrius Freeney Jr. has had the opportunity to be a part of the internship program within the BroncoLife department. While serving as an assistant for BroncoLife, Freeney Jr. utilized the opportunity to lean on Wright as a mentor.
“I shadowed Willie and was just learning from him,” said Demetrius Freeney Jr. “I had the opportunity to program a few community service events for the football team. One specifically being with the Boys and Girls Club of Ada County. It was a great experience for the team. We all loved it.”
Freeney Jr. is in a unique position similar to Wright’s. He hasn’t been handed the easy road. The California native grew up in San Leandro, California and played his first year of college football across the bay at San Mateo College, a junior college in the Bay Area. After a successful first year at San Mateo, Freeney Jr. transferred to Miami where he appeared in three games before finding a new home in Tucson, Arizona at Arizona the following year.
In Freeney Jr.’s first year in the Blue and Orange in 2025, he helped lead the Broncos to a third consecutive Mountain West Championship title and appeared in 11 games. Additionally he held opposing quarterbacks to a 33.3 completion percentage when the ball was thrown his way.
“Willie [Wright] has lived what we’re living through right now. He’s been through fall camps and played at the highest level. It’s always great to ask him questions and get insight from him,” said Freeney Jr.
While Freeney Jr.’s path hasn’t been straight and clear, he has used the ability to lean on Wright as a mentor and find his way back to a spot he feels lets him shine his way.
Willie’s main focus isn’t only to be somebody to talk to, but to provide everybody a reason to believe in themselves, both on and off the field. Building relationships and using your name and public image for a positive impact on the community. The involvement of Willie and BroncoLife has provided players like Freeney Jr. opportunities to build up their futures for when their playing careers come to an end to build their network.
“We got the chance to go do different career tours as well which was great,” said Freeney Jr. “It showed me the importance of building relationships and just connecting with people that are already in the industry.”
Coach Danielson refers to Wright as the “energy guy.” Wright isn’t at every practice. He’s not telling everybody what to do. So, when he is on the gridiron the players utilize him as a role model. He lived in what a lot of them dream of becoming and very recently at that.
Athletes can’t succeed without being in a good place mentally and physically. Because he isn’t in a coaching role, Wright is in a unique position that allows the players to communicate the things they feel are a little more sensitive.
I think if the athlete or person is not okay, they won’t be able to produce or perform. I’m no mental health specialist, but I think once you make sure the person is okay, you will notice a trend in the right direction. I don’t want to see an athlete spiral. I’ve had several teammates at all levels that get done playing and have no idea where to go from there. I want to bridge that gap.Willie Wright
Athletes from all over the world experience that feeling. They dedicate so much of their time and energy into something they have a true passion for. Nobody plays forever, but some play a lot longer than others. For Wright, it wasn’t his choice when that clock hit zero, but finding a way to use his image, experiences and ability to build and maintain relationships will help him keep the game of football around as long as he wants it to be.
At the end of the day, Wright’s goal to be an outlet and resource to these athletes is something he is making a reality. As the Broncos take The Blue for the first time this year, he’ll be a reason their foundation is as strong as it is. Utilizing his past as something the new generation of Bronco football players can use to navigate their own paths on and off the field is the lasting impact Willie wants to be remembered for.