New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the club has agreed to terms with free agent punter Ryan Wright. Here are five things to know about Wright:
1. Productive start with Vikings
Wright signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent where he played the last four seasons, attempting 254 punts for 12,118 yards with an average of 47.9 yards per punt and a net of 42.5 yards per punt. He has pinned 101 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line in his NFL career.
2. Coming off career season
Wright is coming off a career season in 2025 with 65 punts for 3,184 yards, ranking seventh in the NFL with 49.0 yards per punt as well as ranking fourth in net yards per punt with 44.5. He had an average hang time of 4.49, good for seventh in the NFL, and forced 22 fair catches, fifth in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
3. NFL-best long ball
Wright finished the 2025 NFL season with the longest punt of the year - a 77-yard boot during Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings flipped the field from their own 21-yard line to pin Cleveland at their own 1-yard line (an additional yard was tacked on after an accepted holding penalty on Cleveland).
4. Tulane Green Wave alum
No stranger to New Orleans, Wright attended Tulane University where he played four years. He departed the school as the all-time leader in punting average (minimum 100 punts) with 44.5 yards per punt. He finished with 200 career punts for 8,909 yards for the Green Wave. He earned All-American Athletic Conference Honors in 2020 and 2021 and was named a Freshman All-American in 2018. In his senior season in 2021, he set a school record by averaging 47.5 yards per punt.
5. Dropping "napalm"
Wright's go-to punt with the Vikings was named "napalm", a "bomb" that whips left. Also in his repertoire was a knuckling "moon ball" and a "banana ball" that spins sideways according to an article on the Vikings team website.
The New Orleans Saints announced that the club has agreed to terms with punter Ryan Wright. Check out Wright in action with the Minnesota Vikings during his NFL career and the Tulane Green Wave during his college career.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright punts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard, right, kicks a field goal against the Green Bay Packers with the help of Vikings holder Ryan Wright (17) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright looks at the ball before punting during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) runs off the field during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright punts to the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) punts against the Houston Texans during a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) punts the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football wild card playoff game Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) punts the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 in Seattle. The Vikings defeated the Seahawks 27-24.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) punts during an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (17) kicks the ball during a preseason NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (14) punts the football during an NFL pre-season football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 in Seattle.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (14) punts against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit.
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (14) during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022 in Minneapolis.
Tulane place-kicker Merek Glover (62) celebrates a field goal with holder Ryan Wright (97) during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Houston in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. Tulane won 38-31.
Tulane's Merek Glover (62) celebrates a go-ahead field goal with holder Ryan Wright (97) in front of Houston' Gleson Sprewell (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. Tulane won 38-31.
