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Fortune
Fortune
Entertainment
Joshua Hong

College sports and 'amateurism' become the new 'professional' as an NFL player fights to return to school

Dae'quan Wright #8 of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. (Credit: Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Dae’Quan Wright, the former Cleveland Browns tight end, may soon make history. The former NFL player’s stint in pro football is coming to an end after being waived, but that may not be the last time he dons a football uniform, as he’s likely to return to college sports at LSU this year.

Wright, a former Ole Miss tight end who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Cleveland Browns. After receiving a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules, he entered the transfer portal and reached an agreement to return to college and reunite with his former coach Lane Kiffin. The 22-year old’s aspiration to return to America’s favorite amateur sport signals just how big college football has become.

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