A $900 Uber Ride May Have Saved Shareece Wright’s Job With the Buffalo Bills
Like anyone at a new job, Shareece Wright wanted to make the best impression he could in Buffalo.
A veteran cornerback who traded John Harbaugh for Sean McDermott ahead of the 2017 season, Wright signed with the Buffalo Bills hoping for an opportunity.
A missed connecting flight could have cost Wright that opportunity. It only took a $900 Uber ride to save his Bills career.
Shareece Wright played eight NFL seasons
A 5-foot-11, 184-pound lanky cornerback from California, Shareece Wright played for Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin at Southern California. His success there allowed him to enter the NFL as a third-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2011.
Wright picked off one pass and forced a fumble in four seasons with the Chargers. He was a solid reserve defensive back but never grew into a capable starter.
Wright moved to Baltimore in 2015 and spent two seasons playing under John Harbaugh.
Wright signed with Buffalo in 2017 and spent 2018 in Houston. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck picked on Wright throughout the season, and Houston lost in the first round of the playoffs.
The veteran cornerback didn’t play in 2019 and remains a free agent.
Wright famously missed a plane to training camp
In June 2017, Shareece Wright had to travel to Buffalo for a voluntary training camp.
There was only one problem. Wright missed his connecting flight from Chicago to New York.
Over 500 miles and eight hours away, Wright needed a miracle to get there in time. He opened the Uber app on his phone and hoped that said miracle would come.
Two drivers declined Wright’s request at first. The third time, though, happened to be the charm.
A $900 Uber ride may have saved Shareece Wright’s job with the Bills
Luckily for Shareece Wright, he found an Uber driver willing to make the trip. Although driver Hadi Abdollahian thought he originally had to take Wright to Buffalo Grove, Ill., he nonetheless drove the player eight hours to Buffalo.
In an interview with CNN, Wright reflected on the drive and how grateful he was for Abdollahian.
“He didn’t complain once. He kept me from stressing out. The only thing he complained about was people driving 50 miles an hour. His focus was to get me there on time and he did.”
Abdollahian got Wright to the Bills’ training facility with minutes to spare. The ride cost Wright $632.08 and he tipped Abdollahian $300 for the sacrifice.
Bills coach Sean McDermott praised Wright for his dedication to getting to the team on time.
“What a story. Any means necessary. I love that,” McDermott said. “The action spoke volumes to who he is and who we are.”
The miracle foreshadowed a strong season for Wright, who started five games and played 12 for the Bills that fall. He snagged his second career interception, forced a fumble, recovered another, and broke up five passes.
