Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright picked the perfect time to have his best season in 2025. He was the unquestioned anchor of an offensive line that allowed just 24 sacks and paved the way for the NFL’s 3rd-best rushing attack. His second-team All-Pro nod was the first true validation of how good the former 1st round pick has become. Unsurprisingly, the Bears were quick to reward him with a lucrative contract extension totaling four years and $116 million. It was well-deserved. Even Ben Johnson acknowledged it.
After practice on Wednesday, the Bears’ head coach brought the team together and congratulated Wright for the achievement. Then, as only Johnson can, he couldn’t resist needling the tackle a little bit.
There is no question that Wright’s ascent was completed once he began working with Dan Roushar. The man is widely viewed as one of the best offensive line coaches in football. His efforts in New Orleans alone produced an elite group that produced some of Sean Payton’s greatest offenses. Wright, to his credit, admitted that Roushar is a mastermind.
“He is such a good teacher and he does it with such good (delivery). He’s not yelling at you, he’s not screaming at you, he’s not demeaning you. He’s telling you what’s good about the rep and he’s telling you what’s bad about the rep so you can see both sides.”
Ben Johnson always finds a way to keep his players humble.
Becoming the highest-paid right tackle in football can make it easy for success to go to your head. There are way too many examples throughout recent NFL history where a player gets his money and stops working hard. While there is no reason to worry about that with Wright, it still falls on the head coach to remind his players that the grind never stops. Money alone won’t build a legacy. Sustained success and championships do that. Ben Johnson believes Wright is capable of much greater things. If you’re not aiming for the Hall of Fame, why are you even playing?
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One thing is certain: Wright has checked the first major box in his career. He got his money, setting himself and his family up for life. Next on the agenda is winning a championship. The Bears took a big step in that direction last season, reaching the divisional round. There is still so much work to do. Wright is a critical part of that pursuit. With the defense still seeking an identity, the offense must once again carry the load. As always, it must start up front.
| Season | Pass-Blocking Grade | Run-Blocking Grade | Overall PFF Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 (Rookie) | 70.0 | 66.0 | 68.0 |
| 2024 | 75.4 | 82.2 | 79.3 |
| 2025 | 81.9 | 85.6 | 81.4 |
Don’t expect Johnson to let up.
Now other players know what to expect. Johnson will be among the first to congratulate you, but don’t you dare think that he will say, ‘Mission accomplished.’ The Bears’ head coach is hardwired to always push. Reaching a milestone just means it’s time to find the next one. The time for self-congratulations will be after you retire. Wright is nowhere near that. If he has his way, he’ll be in Chicago for a long time. Jimbo Covert was the latest Bears offensive lineman to crack the Hall of Fame. No doubt he aims to join that elite group someday.
Johnson is the perfect man to help him get there. His offense is one of the best in football and should remain that way for years to come. If Wright stays healthy and plays like he did last season, the accolades will keep rolling in. One person who is thrilled by it all is general manager Ryan Poles. He was the one who believed in Wright before everybody else did. Looking back, that 2023 draft may go down as one of the best a Bears GM has ever had, both for the trade Poles pulled off and who he landed in the end.
