By Sean Hammond
MINNEAPOLIS — Nahshon Wright went up, all the best way up, towards the heavens.
His arms outstretched, the go from Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy landed completely within the Chicago Bears cornerback’s palms.
Wright, 27, felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He fell to at least one knee behind the top zone. Teammates Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III have been among the many first to achieve him. They every put a hand on Wright’s shoulder pads. They let him really feel these feelings.
Wright’s former coach at Laney School, John Beam, died Friday after being shot a day earlier on the Oakland junior school’s discipline home, the place he was working as the college’s athletic director.
“Today he was watching over me,” Wright mentioned after the Bears’ 19-17 win over the Vikings. “That’s crazy. He called me the night before he passed and he told me every game he watched, I just seemed to get a pick. I just know he was behind me today. He was with me today.”
Wright and his brother Rejzohn, a cornerback for the New Orleans Saints, performed for Beam at Laney after graduating from James Logan Excessive in Union Metropolis. Each later transferred to Oregon State earlier than making their NFL desires a actuality.
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Nahshon Wright mentioned Beam “meant the world to me.” When their father, Jamal Wright, was shot and killed in December 2017 in San Jose, Beam stepped right into a father function for the brothers.
“I’m going to take that ball back home and give it to his family because that one was for him,” Wright mentioned.
Wright’s interception was considered one of two key picks for the Bears protection within the first half of Sunday’s win. Byard, the veteran security, had the opposite, his fifth interception of the season.
The Bears practically blew the sport, watching a 16-3 lead slip away. Minnesota scored a landing within the closing minute to go forward by one level, however Devin Duvernay’s 56-yard kickoff return arrange a game-winning discipline objective from kicker Cairo Santos as time expired.
On an emotional afternoon, with the lead seesawing within the closing minutes, Wright believed Beam was there with him. Though it has been seven years since Wright performed for Beam at Laney, he mentioned they nonetheless spoke practically each week.
When the Saints visited the Bears final month at Soldier Discipline — Nahshon versus Rejzohn — Beam got here to Chicago. On the Saturday evening earlier than the sport, the coach wished to get his steps in, so Nahshon and Beam spent the evening strolling up and down the Magnificent Mile.
“We rarely talked about football,” Wright mentioned. “We just talked about life and my plans and what I had going on.”
After the Bears wrapped up follow Thursday, Wright noticed a textual content from a good friend telling him Beam had been shot. The coach died the subsequent day. Police arrested a 27-year-old suspect Friday.
Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris known as Wright consistently to verify in on him over the past couple of days. His teammates did their greatest to be supportive.
Nahshon Wright #26 of the Chicago Bears intercepts a landing go meant for Jordan Addison #3 of the Minnesota Vikings through the second quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on Nov. 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photograph by David Berding/Getty Photos)
“He was battling this whole week,” Byard mentioned.
“That’s not easy to come and play a game after you deal with things like that,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds mentioned.
The Bears made Wright their honorary crew captain earlier than Sunday’s recreation. Since getting into the NFL as a third-round draft decide of the Dallas Cowboys in 2021, Wright has been largely a backup. He had simply three profession begins earlier than this season, however an damage to All-Professional cornerback Jaylon Johnson landed Wright within the beginning lineup most of this season. He has appeared in all 10 video games with 9 begins.
Wright has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the 12 months. Within the season opener, additionally towards the Vikings, he returned an interception for a landing.
“His numbers speak for themselves,” Edmunds mentioned.
Wright has labored carefully with Harris, who additionally coached him in Dallas. They shared a giant hug after Wright’s interception Sunday.
“I’m super proud of him because where he started in the league — the movements, the mindset — to where he is right now is night and day,” Harris mentioned final week. “He’s making the most of his opportunities.”
Cornerback is an unforgiving place. Corners are at all times within the crosshairs of the passing assault. Wright was in protection within the closing minute when McCarthy focused large receiver Jordan Addison in the long run zone for what regarded prefer it could be the game-winning landing.
However this Bears crew has been by means of a lot over the primary half of the season. They hold discovering methods to win shut video games within the closing minutes. Even after watching the Vikings have fun in the long run zone, the defenders headed to the sideline with a perception their teammates on particular groups and offense would discover a manner.
This crew has earned that perception.
“It’s knowing that somebody is going to make a play,” Edmunds mentioned.
Josh Blackwell’s blocked discipline objective in Las Vegas. Colston Loveland’s game-winning landing in Cincinnati. Caleb Williams’ dashing heroics final week towards the New York Giants. Add Duvernay’s massive return to the record.
Wright’s interception wasn’t within the closing minute, however it erased what may’ve been a Vikings landing and was a key swing simply earlier than halftime.
Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26) celebrates along with his teammates after his interception within the second quarter of a recreation towards the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 16, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
