Anthony Wright (American football)

Anthony Lavron Wright (born February 14, 1976) is a retired American football quarterback. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at South Carolina.

Wright also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.

College Career
Wright was a three year starter for the South Carolina Gamecocks leading them to a record of 12-21 over the three years, including a 1-10 campaign his senior season.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Wright made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in 1999 as an undrafted free agent, where he was the team's fourth-string quarterback (behind Kordell Stewart, Mike Tomczak, and Pete Gonzalez).

Dallas Cowboys
Wright was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2000. He has played as a backup for most of his career, but has started many games in most seasons of play. In 2001, when Quincy Carter was injured, Wright became his replacement, but would have a knee injury several weeks later and be replaced by Clint Stoerner.

Dallas coach Dave Campo released Wright from the team at the end of the 2002 offseason following the acquisition of Chad Hutchinson in favor of keeping Stoerner for the third quarterback position, stating that Stoerner was better suited for the job, in light of Wright's ambition to be a starting quarterback.

Baltimore Ravens
Wright was signed by the Baltimore Ravens.

Wright would take over for Kyle Boller at quarterback in November of the 2003 season when Boller was injured. After the Ravens lost to Miami in his first start, Wright led a spectacular comeback against the Seahawks; with the score tied at three in the final minute of the first half, the Seahawks scored two fast touchdowns, and stormed to a 41-24 lead with seven minutes remaining, but Wright erupted to four touchdown throws and 319 passing yards in a 44-41 overtime triumph. After the game, Ravens HC Brian Billick gave Wright the game ball to give to his wife, who was giving birth.

The Ravens won five of their last six games and Wright posted a 5-2 record, taking the team to the playoffs, where they lost a 20-17 grinder to Tennessee. However, he was injured for the entirety of the 2004 season. Following another injury to Boller during the first game of the 2005 season, he was named as the starting quarterback for the Ravens.

Cincinnati Bengals
With the departure of Carson Palmer's former backup quarterback Jon Kitna to the Detroit Lions, Wright signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, April 21, 2006, winning a competition with Craig Krenzel and Doug Johnson for the primary backup spot. On June 7, 2007, Wright was showcased in a quarterbacks OTA feature on giants.com in an "amazing toss", accurately throwing a football into a dumpster across the practice field.

New York Giants
On April 13, 2007 he signed with the New York Giants, throwing him into a four-quarterback scramble for roster spots with Eli Manning, Tim Hasselbeck, and Jared Lorenzen. During 2007, the Giants won Super Bowl XLII, defeating the previously undefeated New England Patriots. This gave Wright his only Super Bowl ring. On August 18, 2008, Wright had a possible concussion in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. He was later placed on the injured reserve.

Retirement
After no team wanted to sign him, Wright decided to retire during the 2009 season.