Felix Carl Wright

Football

Felix Wright was born in Carthage in 1959, and when Elaine and J C Wright were shuttling their son to and from baseball practice on the 1971 Carthage Little League All-Star team, they had no idea he would be a starting safety in the National Football League 17 years later.

Felix’s 1971 Little League team was Missouri State Champion and he went on to a stellar three sport career at Carthage High School, graduating in 1977. While at CHS, he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball and his football coach Dave Tapp said “He’s undoubtedly one of the most versatile athletes ever to come out of Carthage.” His senior year he earned all-conference and all-district honors in football and was named the most determined and inspirational athlete on the baseball team. He then attended Drake University on a football scholarship. At Drake, Felix never missed a game in his 4 year career, and was team captain and MVP as a senior.

After college, Felix played three years for the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League, where he was selected to the 1984 CFL All-Star team and intercepted two passes in the Grey Cup. In 1985 he signed with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL where he played six years. His greatest NFL highlight came on a Monday night game in 1987 when he intercepted two passes for 108 yards and one touchdown versus the Los Angeles Rams. In 1989, he had nine interceptions to lead the NFL, and was named Most Valuable Player of the Browns.

After leaving Cleveland in 1991, Felix played for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs before retiring after the 1993 season. During his career, he played in four AFC championship games. In 1995, Felix’s number 15 at Carthage High School was retired in tribute to his athletic accomplishments.

In 2012, Felix lives in Cleveland where he mentors NFL and NBA players, and works part time for the NFL. He has two children, Alexandria and Carlton.