After an overhaul of the interior last offseason and a question mark at another spot, one man was a locked-in incumbent starter on the Chicago Bears' offensive line all along. But it was also clear right tackle Darnell Wright had a lot of prove in his third NFL season, after being a top-10 overall pick in 2023.
By overall Pro Football Focus grade, Wright took a notable step from Year 1 to Year 2, finishing 16th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles. But the eye test showed a lack of consistency, though it's also fair to say the relative lack of talent around him may have impacted his performance.
To start this season, Wright struggled with penalties, committing two in each of the first three games. But he cleaned things up pretty well from there, with just one penalty over his next six games.
In Week 10, Wright gave the Pro Bowl (and All-Pro) voters the lead clip of his highlight reel tape when he stifled New York Giants' edge rusher Brian Burns.
Even more than two months later, what Wright did to the man who finished second in the league in sacks this season is something to behold.
Wright earned a Second Team All-Pro nod for his work this season, as he combined pass blocking prowess (fourth among offensive tackles in ESPN's pass blocking win rate) and being a force in the run game (12th-best run blocking grade among offensive tackles from PFF) like few offensive linemen in the league did.
Ryan Poles praises (and sees big things) for Darnell Wright
During his press conference to wrap up the 2025 season, after being asked to evaluate the offensive line as a whole, Bears general manager Ryan Poles noted Wright's growth this season. So an easy follow-up question was about where he saw the "jump" in that growth.
"It was steady through the season", Poles said. "I think that's one thing (where) we've challenged him, is the consistency part. I think there's some ups and downs every once in a while, but when he strings it together, it's really, really good."
"I love watching him come off the ball and move people. When he has this confidence and belief in himself that he's the best on the field, I think he can be one of the best to do it. He just has to show up, and continue to put that work in and get there."
Poles then noted the work Wright did when few eyes were on him heading into his third season, surely spurred by the added veteran presences around him (Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson).
"I love his work in the offseason, in the weight room. I think it started there for him, and then built up. But with those guys and their leadership, it definitely rubbed off on Darnell."
At first blush, a man of Wright's size (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) wouldn't seem to need to work that hard in the weight room to maintain strength or get functionally stronger. But he clearly put in that work last offseason, losing eight to 10 pounds from his previous listed weight.
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Leaner, if not a little meaner too (just ask Brian Burns), the work Wright did showed up in how the talent that made him a top-10 pick met his output in far better fashion this season. But like Poles said, even better things could be coming in the future as he continues to assert himself as one of the best right tackles in the league.