@Saints on X
By Ross Jackson
There are few, if any, examples of community-to-organization connections stronger than that of New Orleans and its NFL club. The New Orleans Saints are a core part of the city, state and region as present as the eclectic population that keeps it alive and brimming with excitement. New players often learn how important it is to quickly embrace the community of fans and residents that cheer the team on each Sunday.
One newcomer that is arriving with a specific vantage point into this unique part of the professional process is fourth-round pick out of Auburn, offensive lineman Jeremiah Wright.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound right guard hails from Selma, Ala., one of the most impactful and consequential cities in U.S. history thanks to its demonstrations and activism which made it the epicenter of the 1965 Civil Rights Act.
In an exclusive interview with LouisianaSports.Net, Wright shared the importance of carrying that impact and its memory with him to the NFL. He hopes to inspire the youth from his area to follow their dreams, much like he was inspired by major events like Civil Rights marches from Selma to Alabama’s state capital in Montgomery.
“It means a lot,” he said of representing Selma. “(It’s) very special … To know about all the marches and civil rights, Martin Luther King and all that going on, what our people had to go through, it meant a lot to me. To be able to make it out of my hometown and also be an inspirational light to the young kids back at home. Just keep working. And whatever you want to do in life, you can do it.”
Wright’s maturity and commitment to representing his hometown are obvious. He has an understanding that his time in the league has the potential to be bigger than just his personal gain and experience, but what it might mean for others looking to follow in his footsteps from the small town of just south of 18,000 people.
Beyond those he hopes to inspire, there are those who inspired him. Wright’s focus on family is apparent while he hopes to succeed for the sake of those that poured into him, figures of recent and past influences.
“(I’m) big on family,” he said. “Had a son on the (May 17). He’s another one of my whys, and also just one of my close friends. His name was Keon. He’s ‘K3’ I got him tatted on me. That’s pretty much who you’ll see me posting about, hashtagging in almost everything. That’s like a brother to me. I also had some former teammates too, former coaches, just a lot of people that play a role in my life. They end up passing away. But I know him. I got him stamped on me. Man, just keep him close to him.”
Wright’s “why” is simple: help others believe in themselves and make those that believed in him proud.
His message to Selma backs that up. A motivational push for a small, but talent-rich and historically significant town looking for opportunities.
“My message to Selma would be to keep working hard,” he said. “Push yourself. Don’t let yourself get down. Find your why, remember your why, and just keep pushing and work hard.”
Expect the offensive lineman’s embrace of his hometown to translate to embracing New Orleans. With a unique insight into the impact a community can have, especially one striving for togetherness and growth, his understanding of representing a community is a goal of his as he settled into the Crescent City.
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