The Carolina Panthers are preparing for potential changes in their special teams unit as they head into a crucial free agency period. On Tuesday, the team signed veteran to a contract. A well-traveled journeyman, previously spent time with the Panthers in 2023 when incumbent kicker Eddy Piñeiro was sidelined with injuries.
Piñeiro is set to become a free agent on March 12, making Wright a potential backup plan should he depart. In addition to Piñeiro, long snapper JJ Jansen and punter Johnny Hekker are also approaching free agency, meaning Carolina’s special teams unit could undergo a major overhaul in 2025.
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Matthew Wright played college football at UCF before entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. Since then, he has signed with nine different teams, including multiple stints with the Panthers, Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Throughout his career, Wright has been reliable, converting 55 of 63 field-goal attempts and 41 of 43 extra points. Last season, across his time with the Titans, Chiefs, and 49ers, he made 15 of 16 field-goal attempts and was perfect on all six extra-point tries.