Bears Lock In Darnell Wright With Historic Extension

The deal is the largest ever given to a right tackle and represents the most guaranteed money for any offensive lineman in NFL history. Wright’s $29 million average annual value ranks second among all offensive tackles, trailing only the $30.1 million per year Laremy Tunsil received from the Washington Commanders earlier this year.

Wright, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, is coming off a second-team All-Pro season in 2025. He started in 16 games and helped anchor an offensive line that ranked among the league’s best in both pass protection and run blocking under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Despite playing through a shoulder injury for much of the year, Wright ranked fourth in the NFL in pass-block win rate at 95.2 percent.

The Bears exercised Wright’s fifth-year option in April, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season. The new extension locks the 24-year-old in beyond that window and removes any uncertainty heading into the 2026 campaign.

Wright has developed into one of the premier right tackles in football. Securing him long-term gives the Bears continuity on the offensive line as they look to build on last season’s progress.