Mike Wright was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots on April 29, 2005 ... Placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury (1/6/06) ... Placed on injured reserve with a foot injury (12/13/07) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (3/16/09).
 

View Mike Wright's Career Statistics >>

GP/GS (Playoffs): 61/11 (3/0)

• In his first four NFL seasons, entering 2009, Wright totaled 108 tackles (68 solo), four sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and nine special teams tackles.
• In 2008, Wright had a career-high 2.5 sacks while contributing at defensive end and nose tackle. He forced the quarterback to fumble on each of his two full sacks and finished fourth on the team with eight quarterback hits.
• Wright started a career-high four games in 2006 and finished the season with a career-high 47 tackles (32 solo), including a career-high 12 stops in the regularseason finale at Tennessee (12/31/06).
• Wright has proven to be a versatile presence on the defensive line, starting at defensive end, defensive tackle and nose tackle in his career.
• Wright was the only undrafted rookie free agent to make the Patriots' opening-day roster in 2005 and played in 13 games as a reserve that season.
• Wright recorded a blocked field goal against Miami on Oct. 8, 2006, reaching up to swat away a 40-yard Olindo Mare attempt.

2009 (8/4/0/0): Set a single-game career high with a two-sack performance versus the Baltimore Ravens (10/4).

Buffalo (9/14): Played in reserve at defensive tackle and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback victory over the Bills ... Registered one quarterback hit, disrupting a Trent Edwards pass in the fourth quarter. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Made his first start of the season, playing at defensive tackle against the Jets ... Registered his first sack of the season, hauling down Mark Sanchez for a 17-yard strip-sack ... Batted down a third-quarter pass at the line of scrimmage for his first career pass defensed ... Tallied five tackles. Atlanta (9/27): Played in reserve at defensive tackle and on special teams kickoff return and field goal blocking units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Tallied three solo tackles. Baltimore (10/4): Started at defensive tackle as the Patriots opened in a 4-3 defense ... Registered his first career two-sack game ... Dragged down Joe Flacco for a 9-yard sack in the second quarter ... Took down Flacco a second time in the third quarter with an 8-yard sack on a third-down play, forcing a Ravens punt ... Applied pressure on Flacco, resulting in an incomplete pass in the second quarter, helping to force a Ravens punt ... Tallied four tackles (2 solo) and three quarterback hits. at Denver (10/11): Started at defensive tackle at the Broncos ... Made three tackles. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve at defensive tackle and on special teams return and blocking units as the Patriots tied the largest margin of victory by any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger in a 59-0 shutout over the Titans ... Recovered a botched snap from center in the second quarter, helping to set up an ensuing Patriots touchdown drive ... Teamed up with Junior Seau to stuff Javon Ringer for no gain on a fourth-quarter carry ... Tallied four tackles (2 solo). at Tampa Bay (10/25): Played in reserve at defensive tackle and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Notched his fourth sack of the season, hauling down Josh Freeman on a 7-yard sack in the fourth quarter ... Combined with Jonathan Wilhite to stuff Derrick Ward for no gain on a second-quarter carry ... Tallied his second pass defensed of the season along with one quarterback hit ... Made two tackles. Miami (11/8): Started at defensive end in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins ... Registered two tackles.

2008 (16/2): Played in all 16 games and recorded two starts ... Started at left end in place of an injured Ty Warren against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) and Pittsburgh (11/30) ... Finished the season with 33 tackles (17 solo) ... Totaled a career-high 2.5 sacks, a total that ranked fourth on the team ... Finished fourth on the club with eight quarterback hits ... Tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles ... Registered a single-game career high four quarterback hits against Arizona (12/21) ... Notched two tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and a quarterback hit against Denver (10/20) ... Dropped Patrick Ramsey on a 5-yard strip sack, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Gary Guyton ... Made his first start of the season and posted a season-high eight tackles (5 solo) against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Made one tackle at Miami (11/23) ... Started at defensive end while playing in his 50th career game against Pittsburgh (11/30) and made seven tackles ... Tallied six tackles, including three solo stops at Seattle (12/7) ... Teamed with Richard Seymour to drag down Maurice Morris for a 1-yard loss ... Tallied his second sack of the season with a 16-yard strip sack of JaMarcus Russell at Oakland (12/14) ... Helped create the hole for Ellis Hobbs' 95-yard touchdown kickoff return as Hobbs tied the Patriots franchise record with his third career kickoff return for a touchdown ... Tallied a single-game career high four quarterback hits against Arizona (12/21) ... Teamed with Richard Seymour on a 7-yard sack of Kurt Warner, leading to a Cardinals' three-and-out.
 

2007 (9/1, 0/0): Played in nine games and made one start before being placed on injured reserve (12/13) ... Saw his first action of the season and registered his first tackle along with one special teams tackle at Cincinnati (10/1) ... Made his first start of the season at defensive end in the Patriots' win at Dallas (10/14) ... Saw significant time in reserve at defensive end in the Patriots' comeback win over Indianapolis (11/4) ... Tallied a season-high four tackles, three of which were solo tackles ... Played in reserve at defensive end and on special teams coverage units against Pittsburgh (12/9) ... Teamed up with Jarvis Green to drop Ben Roethlisberger for a nine-yard sack in the first quarter ... Tallied four tackles.

2006 (16/4/0/0): Made his first career NFL start at defensive tackle in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets (9/17/06) ... Led the team in tackles once in 2006 (at TEN) ... Tied for the team lead in quarterback hits twice in 2006 (vs. HOU, at JAX) ... Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice in 2006 (vs. DEN, vs. CHI).

Buffalo (9/10): Saw action in a reserve role on the defensive front and on special teams in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Collected a special teams tackle in the win. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Recorded his first career NFL start at defensive tackle ... Collected two tackles in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets. Denver (9/24): Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units ... Notched a special teams stop. at Cincinnati (10/1): Saw significant action on the defensive front in a reserve role ... Tallied four tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals ... Stuffed Rudi Johnson for no gain on a rush up the middle in the second quarter. Miami (10/8): Played in a reserve role on the defensive line and on special teams in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins ... Collected a solo tackle in defensive play ... Got his hand up and blocked an Olindo Mare 40-yard field goal in the first quarter ... Dropped Donnie Jones for no gain on a botched punt attempt in the third quarter. at Buffalo (10/22): Saw significant action on the defensive front and registered two solo tackles and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Forced Lee Evans to fumble on the last play of the first half and the ball was recovered by Ellis Hobbs. at Minnesota (10/30): Saw limited action on the defensive line in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings. Indianapolis (11/5): Saw action in a reserve role at nose tackle and collected one tackle ... Registered one solo special teams tackle on coverage units. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Played in a reserve role on the defensive line and notched three tackles (1 solo). at Green Bay (11/19): Played in a reserve role on the defensive front and notched four solo tackles and a fumble recovery in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers ... Stuffed Vernand Morency for just a 21- yard gain on a kickoff return in the second quarter ... Recovered a fumble after Mike Vrabel strip-sacked Aaron Rodgers for a 6-yard loss in the fourth quarter ... Collected a solo special teams tackle on coverage units.  Chicago (11/26): Saw action in a reserve role at nose tackle in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Deflected a punt and notched a solo tackle during special teams duty ... Got his fingertips on a Brad Maynard punt in the second quarter and the deflected punt traveled only 24 yards to the New England 39-yard line. Detroit (12/3): Saw action as a reserve on the defensive line and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Collected a solo tackle in defensive play ... Pounced on a Jon Kitna fumble that was forced by a Rosevelt Colvin strip-sack in the fourth quarter ... Registered a solo special teams tackle on coverage units. at Miami (12/10): Saw significant action on the defensive line in the second half after Vince Wilfork left the game with an injury in the third quarter ... Collected six tackles (3 solo) ... Stuffed Sammy Morris for no gain on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter. Houston (12/17): Started at nose tackle ... Notched six tackles (3 solo) and a sack in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans ... Shot through the middle and sacked David Carr for a 13-yard loss in the second quarter. at Jacksonville (12/24): Started at nose tackle ... Notched five tackles (4 solo) and a quarterback hit in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars ... Stuffed Maurice Jones-Drew for no gain on a rush up the middle in the first quarter ... Stonewalled Jones-Drew for no gain on a rush up the middle in the final stanza. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at nose tackle ... Led the team with a career-high 12 tackles (9 solo) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans ... Held contain and stuffed Vince Young for a 1-yard gain on a quarterback scramble in the third quarter ... Stonewalled Travis Henry for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right tackle in the fourth quarter.

2006 Postseason (3/0/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Played in a reserve role on the defensive front and notched a tackle in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets. at San Diego (1/14): Saw action in a reserve role on the defensive line in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Played in a reserve role on the defensive front and posted a solo tackle.

2005 (13/0, 0/0): Played in 13 games as a rookie ... Collected 16 tackles (10 solo) while serving as a backup along the defensive line ... Placed on injured reserve (1/6/06) and missed the playoffs. Carolina (9/18): Made his NFL debut and saw action on the kickoff return unit. San Diego (10/2): Collected three tackles (1 solo) in defensive line play ... Stopped Michael Turner for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right guard in the fourth quarter. Atlanta (10/9): Saw action as a reserve on the defensive line and collected a solo tackle. Denver (10/16): Saw action on the defensive front and registered a solo tackle. Indianapolis (11/7): Saw significant action at defensive end and registered four tackles (2 solo). Miami (11/13): Saw action in a reserve role on the defensive front and registered a tackle in defensive play. Kansas City (11/27): Saw limited action on the defensive front and notched a solo tackle. Miami (1/1): Saw significant action on the defensive front and collected five tackles (4 solo) ... Teamed with Hank Poteat to stuff Ricky Williams for no gain.

As a senior in 2004, led all defensive tackles with 42 stops, while recording six tackles for loss ... Tallied a career-high eight tackles against Army ... Made six total stops and a pair of tackles for loss in the win over South Florida ... Blocked a PAT against Miami (Ohio) which was returned for a defensive score ... Played in nine games, making six starts on the defensive line for the Bearcats in 2003 ... Finished the season with 32 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss ... Named Cincinnati's newcomer of the year on defense ... Missed the entire 2002 campaign with a knee injury in the preseason ... Joined the Bearcats as a walk-on in 2001 and was redshirted after transferring from Ashland University ... In 2000, played on special teams in seven games in his only season at Ashland.

Mike Wright was born on March 1, 1982 in Cincinnati, Ohio ... Son of Gary and Chris Wright ... All-state honoree as a senior at Purcell Marian High, playing for coach Tom Stickley ... Two-year starter at defensive end ... Named to the All-City team after helping lead the team to a league title his senior year ... Participated in the 2008 Salvation Army Holiday Party at Gillette Stadium with nearly 250 children from the Boston and Providence Salvation Army centers ... Majored in criminal justice at Cincinnati.
 

• Coming out of high school, Mike's only offer to play football was at Division II Ashland University. After transferring to the University of Cincinnati as a freshman, he decided to walk on to the football team after walking by a spring practice.
• Mike went to Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati, the same school attended by Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach.