Bears Cornerback Nahshon Wright Delivers Game-Changing Moment as Chicago Takes Control of NFC
In a season where the Chicago Bears have quietly built themselves into a legitimate NFC contender, Week 13 may have delivered their defining moment - and it came courtesy of a player who wasn’t even supposed to be the headline act.
With just over four and a half minutes left in the third quarter and the Bears clinging to a narrow 10-9 lead, the Philadelphia Eagles lined up for what’s become their signature move: the Tush Push. Third-and-one at the Bears’ 12-yard line.
Jalen Hurts under center. Everyone in the stadium - and watching at home - knew what was coming.
What they didn’t see coming was Nahshon Wright.
The Bears cornerback didn’t just stop the play. He blew it up.
Wright stripped the ball from Hurts and recovered it himself, flipping the game’s momentum in a flash. That single play didn’t just halt a potential go-ahead drive from the Eagles - it sparked a 24-15 Bears victory that pushed Chicago to 9-3 on the year and cemented their place atop the NFC North.
“That was Shonny making a hell of a play,” said Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen after the game. “We had seen something similar earlier this year, against the Giants, but that time it got ruled forward progress.
This time, Shonny saw the opportunity, trusted his instincts, and made it happen. That was all him.”
A Defensive Statement
Before Wright’s heroics, the Bears defense had already been setting the tone. Through Philadelphia’s first six drives, Chicago allowed just 62 total yards - a masterclass in discipline and gap control against one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. Even after the Eagles found the end zone to cut the lead to one, the Bears didn’t flinch.
By the end of the night, Chicago had held Philly to 317 total yards and forced two turnovers from Hurts. In a game filled with playoff intensity, it was the Bears’ defense - fast, physical, and opportunistic - that made the loudest statement.
And Wright? He’s become the face of that defensive resurgence.
Wright’s Emergence Comes at the Perfect Time
When the Bears lost starting corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon for extended stretches earlier this season, it looked like the secondary might unravel. Instead, Wright stepped in and elevated the unit. His play has been nothing short of outstanding, and the league has taken notice.
Wright was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, a stretch where he racked up three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. That kind of production isn’t just impressive - it’s game-changing. It’s the kind of impact that shifts playoff races and defines seasons.
A Blueprint for Beating the Tush Push?
The Eagles’ Tush Push has been nearly automatic since it entered the league’s lexicon - a short-yardage cheat code powered by Hurts’ strength and Philly’s elite offensive line. But Wright’s play may have cracked the code, or at least shown that it’s not invincible.
Rather than trying to stop the push at the line, Wright attacked the ball. It was a calculated risk, but one that paid off in the biggest possible way. Whether this becomes a trend across the league remains to be seen, but for one night, Chicago found the answer.
Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus
With the win, the Bears not only stayed in control of the NFC North - they now sit as the No. 1 seed in the conference. At 9-3, they’ve positioned themselves to dictate their own playoff path, something few would’ve predicted at the start of the season.
And now comes a pivotal Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. A win there wouldn’t just give Chicago breathing room in the division - it would send another message to the rest of the league: the Bears are for real.
For now, though, it’s Wright’s strip and recovery that will live in the minds of Bears fans. One play.
One moment. And maybe, just maybe, the turning point of Chicago’s season.