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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Chicago Bears locked up one of their most critical offensive pieces on Tuesday, agreeing to a new deal with starting right tackle Darnell Wright.
The four-year, $116 million extension includes $93 million guaranteed, making Wright the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history. His $29 million average annual salary is second only to Laremy Tunsil's $30.1 million.
The Bears selected Wright in the first round (No. 10 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, and he earned second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career last season. He finished the year with an overall PFF grade of 81.4, ranking 14th among 89 qualified tackles, and a run-block grade of 85.6, good for sixth.
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Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Wright credited head coach Ben Johnson for believing in him and explained what sets him apart from past coaches. "When he first got here, he instilled the confidence into me that I was going to be a part of the offense," Wright said. "I've never had a coach really come up to me and be like, 'We're depending on you.'"
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Johnson took over as Bears head coach last season and, in his first year at the helm, led Chicago to an 11-6 record and its first NFC North title since 2018 — also the franchise's highest win total since that year. He also guided the Bears to their first playoff win since 2010, a Wild Card-round victory over the rival Green Bay Packers.
It felt like last season was a true changing-of-the-guard moment for the Bears under Johnson. Now, the test is whether they can sustain it in 2026. The Packers will get back a healthy Micah Parsons, the Minnesota Vikings now have Kyler Murray, and the Detroit Lions still boast one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL. Johnson has built Chicago into a powerhouse in the NFC — and Wright will play a crucial role in making sure it stays that way.
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