Nahshon Wright Bio
Nahshon Wright is an American professional football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds, Wright combines rare height for the position with the length and athletic background developed across multiple sports during his youth. He has previously played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys after entering the league as a third-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 Conference.
Across his first several NFL seasons, Wright developed from a special teams contributor into a starting-caliber cornerback known for creating turnovers. By the 2025 campaign, he had emerged as one of the most talked-about young defensive backs in the NFC, earning league-wide recognition for his ball production and situational playmaking.
Early Life and Background
Nahshon Wright was born on September 23, 1998, in Hayward, California, United States. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended James Logan High School in Union City, California. At James Logan, he was a multi-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, and track, playing both wide receiver and cornerback on the gridiron. That combination of football versatility and complementary track and basketball training helped shape his length, coordination, and competitive profile as a prospect.
After high school, Wright enrolled at Laney College, a community college in Oakland, California. He quickly became a key contributor for the Laney Eagles football program, helping the team win the 2018 state championship. Across his Laney tenure he made 12 starts and tallied 17 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and three passes defensed, while earning all-conference honors. His play at the junior-college level established him as a coveted transfer prospect.
He transferred to Oregon State University in 2019 to continue his development at the NCAA Division I level. As a Beavers defensive back, he adjusted to a higher level of competition while maintaining his role as a starter, laying the groundwork for his eventual decision to enter the NFL draft.
Path to American Football
Wright’s path to a professional football career was non-linear. Beginning as a two-way high school player at James Logan, he refined his cornerback skills at Laney College, where the Eagles’ 2018 state championship run gave him both team success and individual exposure. His combination of size, length, and ball skills made him an attractive FBS transfer target despite the limited stage of junior-college football.
At Oregon State, Wright continued to ascend. As a sophomore in 2019, he appeared in all 12 games with 10 starts and posted 34 tackles, half a tackle for loss, and three interceptions. As a junior in 2020, he started six of seven shortened-season games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, registering 30 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defensed, and one sack, including standout performances against California, Oregon, and Stanford. Following that junior campaign, he declared for the 2021 NFL draft, capping a developmental arc that spanned two collegiate programs.
Nahshon Wright Career
Dallas Cowboys Era (2021–2023)
Nahshon Wright was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round, 99th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft. The pick drew criticism in media circles as a reach, with analysts noting that the team had passed on other defensive backs such as Elijah Molden, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Ambry Thomas, and Brandon Stephens. Wright signed his four-year rookie contract with Dallas on July 21, 2021, worth $4.8 million. As a rookie, he appeared in 13 games, mostly on special teams, finishing with seven defensive tackles and two special-teams tackles while logging key moments on punt coverage, including a recovered blocked punt for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2022, Wright appeared in seven games with two starts, registering 22 tackles with one for loss, one interception, four pass breakups, and one special-teams tackle. After a slow start in which he was inactive for the season’s first five games, he replaced struggling cornerback Kelvin Joseph against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14 and started the next two weeks. He recorded a career-best nine tackles, two pass breakups, and his first career interception against the Tennessee Titans. He was inactive for both Cowboys playoff games as the team activated additional defensive backs. In 2023, Wright was placed on injured reserve on August 30 with an ankle injury, was activated on October 16, and appeared in 12 games as a backup, tallying two defensive tackles, one pass breakup, and three special-teams tackles.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–2025)
On August 9, 2024, Wright was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. He was waived on August 27 and re-signed to the Vikings’ practice squad, working his way back into the organization through the practice squad pathway. On January 17, 2025, Wright signed a reserve/future contract with Minnesota, positioning him to compete for a roster spot the following offseason. He was released by the Vikings on April 7, 2025, ending his tenure in Minnesota.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On April 8, 2025, Wright signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, giving him a fresh opportunity to compete for a cornerback role. In the 2025 regular-season opener against the Vikings, he announced his arrival by recording a 74-yard interception return touchdown off quarterback J. J. McCarthy. As the season progressed, Wright saw increased action because of injuries at the cornerback position and quickly became a central figure in Chicago’s defensive game plan.
Wright made several signature plays during the 2025 campaign. In Week 6, he recovered a fumbled handoff that set up the Bears’ game-winning drive against the Washington Commanders. The following week, he intercepted New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. In Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he was beaten by Tee Higgins for two first-half touchdowns, including a 44-yard score along the sideline, but he atoned by intercepting Joe Flacco’s Hail Mary pass to secure a 47–42 Bears victory. He dropped two potential interceptions in Week 10 but recovered a late fumble by New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart to help Chicago win. He intercepted McCarthy again in the second meeting with Minnesota, dedicating the play to the late Laney College head coach John Beam. In Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he ripped the ball from Jalen Hurts during the Eagles’ signature Tush Push play, forcing Philadelphia’s first turnover of the season on the play. His November play earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Month award.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wright’s most celebrated moments have come in high-leverage situations. His 74-yard pick-six against McCarthy in the 2025 opener set the tone for his Bears tenure, and his November surge was recognized league-wide with NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors. His forced fumble on the Tush Push against the Eagles and his game-sealing interception of Flacco’s Hail Mary against Cincinnati highlighted his knack for dramatic, momentum-shifting plays.
Nahshon Wright Career Highlights
Across his NFL career, Wright has developed into a turnover-forcing cornerback whose production has grown with opportunity. He has recorded multiple interceptions, pass breakups, and fumble recoveries in both regular-season and situational moments, with his most productive stretch coming during the 2025 season in Chicago.
NFL Highlights
Wright’s first career interception came against the Tennessee Titans in 2022 while with the Cowboys. His 2025 Bears campaign produced multiple highlight-reel plays, including the 74-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota, interceptions off Rattler, Flacco, and McCarthy, and a forced fumble that stopped Philadelphia’s Tush Push. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November 2025, a clear recognition of his league-wide impact during that stretch.
Other Performances
Before the NFL, Wright was part of Laney College’s 2018 state championship team and earned all-conference honors at the junior-college level. At Oregon State, he appeared in 19 games across his sophomore and junior seasons and posted 64 tackles, five interceptions, and a sack, performances that cemented his status as a draft prospect.
Nahshon Wright Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Wright’s younger brother, Rejzohn Wright, was featured in the 2020 season of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U and plays cornerback for the New Orleans Saints. His cousin, Mekhi Blackmon, plays cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts, while another cousin, Bump Cooper Jr., played cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens. The family has produced a notable pipeline of NFL-caliber defensive backs at the cornerback position.
2025 Season Performance
Wright’s 2025 season has been the defining chapter of his professional career to date. After signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears in April, he opened the year with a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown and continued to produce turnovers throughout the schedule, including fumble recoveries against the Commanders and Giants and interceptions off the Vikings’ McCarthy, the Saints’ Rattler, and the Bengals’ Flacco.
His November performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Month award, validating his emergence as a full-time contributor on Chicago’s defense. Even in games where he gave up big plays, such as two Tee Higgins touchdowns in Week 9, Wright answered with a game-sealing Hail Mary interception, demonstrating the resilience and ball-hawking instincts that have defined his 2025 production.
With the Bears building momentum late in the season, Wright’s combination of length, instincts, and situational playmaking has positioned him as a core member of Chicago’s secondary and a candidate for a longer-term contract when his current deal expires.