Darnell Wright gets properly recognized as one of Bears' most important players

On the topic of anything related to Caleb Williams' late-game magicianship, one of the most memorable plays from the Chicago Bears' 2025 season involved the exploits of Darnell Wright.

In Week 10 against the New York Giants, as Williams completed a critical pass to tight end Colston Loveland, Wright made New York Giants edge rusher Brian Burns look like an undrafted rookie.

On his way to 16.5 sacks last season, the second-highest total in the league, Burns surely abused plenty of offensive tackles with the quick spin move he tried on Wright. But the Bears' right tackle wasn't having it at all.

The exhibition of foot quickness and athleticism, getting upfield to force Burns into trying a spin move back to the inside in the first place, was impressive enough for a man of Wright's size. Then he followed it with a showing of brute strength which still requires multiple viewings to be fully appreciated.

Up in heaven, Walter Payton applauded this stiff arm from Wright.

Wright earned a Second Team All-Pro nod for the work he did last season. Yet he was somehow a Pro Bowl snub, as he still waits for his first career recognition on that front.

Darnell Wright gets acknowledged for his importance to the Bears

When it comes to the most valuable players on a team, it's the quarterback followed by everyone else. Extending beyond that low-hanging fruit, Kevin Patra of NFL.com has named the non-quarterback MVP for each NFC team. He chose Wright for the Bears.

"The Bears finally employed a sexy offense last season, which overshadowed Wright’s ascension toward the top of the right tackle rankings. The 325-pounder has improved in each of his three seasons as both a road grader and pass protector. He shined in Year 1 under Ben Johnson, generating a career-best 3.8 percent pressure rate allowed last year, per Pro Football Focus (a shade below first-team All-Pro Penei Sewell’s 3.3 percent figure). Wright has the tools to continue climbing the charts as one of the best blockers in the NFL. At the very least, the man should earn a Pro Bowl nod after being snubbed last season."

In terms of being irreplaceable, as he has become one of the best right tackles in the NFL, Wright is up there with anyone on the Bears' roster. It can easily be argued, if we even have to argue it, the drop-off from Williams to his backup (Tyson Bagent) would not be as dramatic as the drop-off from Wright to his.

Read more: Player deemed most critical to Bears' success in 2026 is really no surprise

Perhaps very soon, Wright will have a contract showing his status as one of the league's best right tackles and a long-term core player for the Bears. He may be somewhat of a secret on a national level right now, but he's becoming impossible to ignore as he reaches his full potential.

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