LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — When veteran cornerback Nahshon Wright arrived at Halas Hall on April 8, he believed a breakthrough was on the horizon despite what had just transpired.
One day earlier, Wright was released by the Vikings. He had spent the entire 2024 season with the Vikings after being traded by the Cowboys, but an opportunity never emerged for him in Minnesota. That ended up being to Chicago's benefit.
The 27-year-old Wright is one of the best stories in the NFL this season. Prior to 2025, he had started just three NFL games for two teams that eventually cast him aside during his first four unfulfilling years in the league. In 13 games this season, Wright has five interceptions and is second among cornerbacks in Pro Bowl voting.
“I had faith,” Wright said. “What’s for me is for me. I don’t think I ever doubted myself in terms of what my future would be.”
Wright landed and earned a key role for the Bears after two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson suffered a serious groin injury while training in July. That allowed Wright to step in with the starting defense at the beginning of training camp.
Wright never planned to relinquish his role, and he hasn't. On Sept. 8, in his first game in a Bears uniform, he had a pick-six against the Vikings, who cut him nearly five months to the date.
It proved to be just the beginning for Wright, whose success hasn’t surprised Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris. After all, when Wright was drafted in the third round by the Cowboys back in 2021, it was Harris who was his defensive backs coach in Dallas.
Harris was part of the Bears brass that vouched for Wright to be signed once the Vikings let him go.
“A professional,” Harris said. “(He is) very professional, loves to compete, very coachable. It’s hard to find guys nowadays that are coachable. So, when you got a guy that’s coachable, the results are usually good.
“Honestly, like, years ago, we’ve talked about this. It just so happened to happen.”
Wright remembers Harris’ words of encouragement – “It’s only a matter of time,” he would say – when times were difficult in Dallas. Wright was a reserve at cornerback who had to cut his teeth on special teams and bide his time for a chance.
The Cowboys never gave Wright his opportunity, nor did the Vikings. He appeared in just one game for Minnesota in 2024. With the Bears, Wright has established himself as a key starter.
For all his individual accomplishments this season, Wright is enjoying the team success more than anything. Entering their game against the Browns on Sunday, the Bears sit at 9-4 and hold the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture.
“What I’m enjoying most is the winning,” Wright said. “You can have all the individual success, but if you’re not winning, when you get back in that locker room, there’s a stale feeling. So, being able to have the success I’ve had and win, the winning is what makes it the best.”
A native of the Bay Area, Wright noted that the Pro Bowl Games will be held in San Francisco. He'd love to earn that recognition and play in front of family and friends. Of course, his ultimate goal is to be too busy to compete in the Pro Bowl Games on Feb. 3. His dream would be for the Bears to be preparing to play in the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8.
For Wright, there’s uncertainty beyond this season. He’s playing a one-year deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Wright hasn’t engaged with the Bears in discussions regarding a contract extension. He has envisioned staying in Chicago long term, but there may be more lucrative offers on the open market when free agency begins in March.
That’s all in the future for Wright. For now, he’s focused on the present and embracing a chance he had been waiting to receive.
“Everything kind of happened how it happened,” Wright said. “I’m having the success that I’m having.”
“They just believed in me.”
Emma’s prediction (8-5): Bears 28, Browns 7
Given the stakes for the Bears, the forecast for Sunday and a lowly opponent in the Browns, this just shouldn’t be a close game.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.