Why a former Bengals player quit NFL to become a star in a Teyana Taylor movie

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The 23-year-old rookie Ceyair Wright earlier this year quit his budding NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals to begin a career in Hollywood. Earlier this year, on May. 8, 2026, Wright signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent.

However, later, on Aug. 15, 2026, he was placed on the Bengals’ exempt/left squad list to pursue an acting opportunity in a Teyana Taylor movie. While he is talented enough to play football and pursue acting, Wright only had time to do one. In an interview with The Athletic, it now seems Wright has chosen acting, for now. “I felt internally like my spirit wanted me to do this,” he said.

When Wright signed with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year, he was offered the lead role in Get Lite, a film directed by Academy Award-nominated actress Teyana Taylor and produced by Paramount. “I don’t think it’s the same in terms of the rush I get in football,” Wright said while addressing acting. “I just love seeing a world be thought of from somebody’s mind and then created and made for people to watch.”

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A child model since the age of 3 or 4, he then transitioned into commercials before moving on to television. His acting skills were evident when he starred in Space Jam: A New Legacy, as a teenager alongside LeBron James, playing James’ oldest son. However, while he now chose to act over his NFL career, he pursued them both during his college playing days.

He played football at USC and Nebraska but decided to step away from the NFL after one preseason game with the Bengals to pursue his acting career with the Teyana Taylor movie. The film follows a sheltered dance student who discovers the vibrant Litefeet dance culture of the New York City subways. Taylor’s Get Lite will also feature some top names such as Storm Reid, Leslie Odom Jr., and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Former Bengals player Ceyair Wright addresses his new acting gig

In the same interview, he opened up about his acting job. Speaking about his NFL and acting career, Wright claimed that acting is something he wants to do right now.

“This was what I wanted to do right now,” Wright said. “If I’m just honest with people, everybody that I interact with about my intentions, about what I want to do, things will be good because I know that I can play at a professional level, and I know that I can act at a professional level.

“Being the lead of a movie, I’ve never done that before. ‘Get Lite’ solidifies my foot in the door, acting-wise, in a completely different way. Some people go their whole careers and never star in a movie or are the lead,” he added.

While his father often got too tired taking him to auditions and his football practice, Wright never saw it as a struggle. Near the end of his sophomore year, Wright received his first major Division I football offer from Nevada. And six months later, he received his Space Jam: A New Legacy offer as a 16-year-old.

However, despite his lead role in the Teyana Taylor movie, Wright does not see it as stepping away from the NFL. He views it as a temporary shift in focus until the project is complete, when he plans to return to the field, either for the Bengals or any other team.

“(Being a lead in a major film) isn’t something that’s a normal dream,” he said. “That was one of mine. Going to the NFL was also something I dreamed of. Now I’ve done both. The fear was that I wouldn’t be able to play again, and I know that I can,” he shared.

When Wright is ready to make his return, he will be a free agent pursuing workouts with the Bengals, getting the first call as a sign of respect. Both his parents motivated him to pursue his dreams, and it is something that ultimately helped Wright make his decision.