Jody Wright, a 16-year coaching veteran, is in his first year as the Giants' defensive assistant. He spent the 2019 season, his first in the NFL, as an offensive assistant working with the running backs for the Cleveland Browns under coach Freddie Kitchens, now the Giants' tight ends coach.
Before joining the Browns, Wright spent 14 years working on the collegiate level. He was the offensive line and assistant head coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2018, when the school won its first Conference USA championship and bowl game. Wright was also the running backs coach at UAB in 2014, when he helped guide Jordan Howard, who set numerous school records including the single-season rushing (1,587) and rushing touchdowns (13) marks.
Wright had two stints at the University of Alabama. He was a graduate assistant/offensive analyst from 2010-12 and the director of player personnel from 2015-17. He was part of four national championship teams (2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017) and signed three consecutive No. 1 recruiting classes. Wright was the passing game coordinator/tight ends coach at Jacksonville State in 2013 and the graduate assistant/ coordinator of football operations at Mississippi State from 2005-09.
Wright graduated from Jacksonville State in 2004 and earned his master's degree from Mississippi State in 2009.
An Alabama native, Wright was a two-time all-state running back at Pickens Academy (Carrollton, Ala.) in high school, where he helped the school to three state titles. His father, Lynn Wright, has won nine football state Titles in Alabama and is a member of the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) and the University of West Alabama Halls of Fame. His brothers, Josh and Jonathan, are successful high school coaches at Bessemer Academy in Alabama.
Wright is married to the former Meredith Hocutt of Tuscaloosa and has a son Thomas (4) and daughter Wellesley (2).
2005 Mississippi State University - volunteer defensive assistant
2006-08 Mississippi State University - graduate assistant/offense
2009 Mississippi State University - coordinator of football operations
2010 University of Alabama - offensive graduate assistant
2011-12 University of Alabama - offensive analyst
2013 Jacksonville State University - passing game coordinator/tight ends
2014 University of Alabama at Birmingham - assistant head coach/running backs
2015-17 University of Alabama - director of player personnel
2018 University of Alabama at Birmingham - asst. HC/O-line, run game coord.
2019 Cleveland Browns - offensive assistant
2020 New York Giants - defensive assistant