Back in April, the Vikings cut cornerback Nahshon Wright. The Chicago Bears signed him the very next day for one year, $1.1 million.
Fast forward seven months and Wright is flipping Chicago’s entire defensive identity on its head.
He has 4 interceptions on the season which is tied for the second-most in the league and the most among all cornerbacks. Funny enough, two of those interceptions have come off Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy.
The thing is, Chicago didn’t sign Wright expecting a defensive centerpiece. In fact, he wasn’t expected to even get playing time.
But following injuries to Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker, Wright was asked to step up. And step up he did.
This past Sunday, the 6 foot 5 corner snagged a huge interception in the end zone that erased what would be a touchdown right before halftime.
Wright used his massive frame to tower over Jordan Addison, high-pointing the ball as if he knew it was meant to be his.
“He’s so long that he’s able to knock balls away or haul them in,” Bears coach Ben Johnson said. “We definitely needed that one.”
Needed is an understatement. That play preserved a lead, swung momentum, and helped Chicago steal a tough 19-17 win on the road.
A Heavy Heart
GettyChicago Bears Cornerback Nahshon Wright
But this wasn’t just a revenge game. Not even close.
Wright took the field carrying the weight of terrible news: his former junior college coach and father figure, John Beam, had been shot and killed just days earlier in Oakland.
Beam, the iconic Laney College coach featured on Netflix’s Last Chance U, wasn’t just someone from Wright’s past. He was family.
“When my dad was killed, he came to my house and got me out of the bed,” Wright said through tears. “He stepped in as a father figure. He meant the world to me.”
So when Wright ripped the ball away in the end zone, then dropped to one knee surrounded by teammates lifting him back up it was more than a football moment. It was a tribute.
“He was behind me today,” Wright said. And after the game, he vowed to give the interception ball to Beam’s family.
From Discarded to Indispensable
GettyChicago Bears Cornerback Nahshon Wright
The Bears didn’t plan for this. They couldn’t have. They just hoped Wright might compete.
But instead, he’s become:
- A game captain in Minnesota
- A vital part of the NFL’s most opportunistic defense
- A steadying force amid injuries to Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Jaquan Brisker
- A playmaker who changes games at the catch point
- A locker-room anchor who has earned instant respect
Chicago’s defense has been pummeled by injuries, yet it leads the NFL in takeaways. And Wright is right at the center of it (no pun intended).
Suddenly, the outcast Chicago took a chance on is one of the most valuable defenders on the roster.
However, Wright only signed a one-year deal, meaning he will be a free agent. And the Bears now face a looming decision: Is this just a great story… or the beginning of someone they can’t afford to let walk?
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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