The Bears-Packers rivalry has never needed much fuel to stay hot, but this season, it’s burning at a whole new temperature. With Micah Parsons now headlining Green Bay’s defense after a blockbuster trade with Dallas back in August, and the Bears undergoing a full-blown culture reset under new head coach Ben Johnson, the NFC North has turned into a battleground where every game feels like a playoff preview.
But even in the middle of all that animosity, there’s still room for respect-especially between players who’ve gone to battle together before. Case in point: Micah Parsons took to social media this week to voice his frustration over Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright being left off the Pro Bowl roster.
And it wasn’t just a casual shoutout. Parsons made it loud and clear:
“Nahshon Wright getting snubbed for first team Pro Bowl selection is crazy!!”
Coming from one of the league’s most dominant defenders-and now a face of the Packers-that kind of endorsement carries weight. And while Bears fans may not be used to agreeing with anything coming out of Green Bay, they’re likely nodding in unison on this one.
Wright’s Breakout Year Deserved Recognition
Wright’s absence from the Pro Bowl roster raised more than a few eyebrows in Chicago-and for good reason. Signed as a free agent this past offseason, he’s become one of the brightest surprises on a Bears defense that’s been quietly turning heads all year. Under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Wright has transformed into a turnover machine, leading the entire league with eight takeaways: five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
But this isn’t just about volume-it’s about impact. Wright’s takeaways haven’t been empty calories.
They’ve come in crucial moments, often flipping the momentum in Chicago’s favor. In November alone, he racked up five turnovers, a stretch that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors and helped the Bears pull off a signature road win in Philadelphia.
That game featured one of Wright’s most memorable plays of the season: a forced and recovered fumble on Jalen Hurts during a “tush push” attempt that helped seal a 24-15 victory.
And let’s not forget how this season started. Back in Week 1, Wright jumped a route and took it 74 yards to the house against the Vikings-a pick-six that set the tone for what’s become a career-defining campaign. Add in a handful of sideline interceptions that looked more like wide receiver highlights, and it’s clear: Wright’s been doing it all.
Old Ties, New Colors
What makes Parsons’ public support even more compelling is the history he shares with Wright. The two entered the league together in 2021, both drafted by the Cowboys-Parsons in the first round, Wright in the third.
They spent three seasons as teammates in Dallas before Wright was traded to the Vikings in 2024. That stint in Minnesota was short-lived-just one game-before he landed in Chicago, where he’s found a new home and a new role as a cornerstone of the Bears’ secondary.
So when Parsons speaks up, it’s not just about rivalry lines being blurred. It’s about a player sticking up for someone he’s shared a locker room with, someone whose talent he knows firsthand. And while it might feel strange for Bears fans to see a Packers star backing one of their own, it also validates what they’ve been saying all season: Nahshon Wright has played at a Pro Bowl level, and the numbers-and the tape-back it up.
Pro Bowl Politics and the Bigger Picture
The snub stings even more when you see who did make it. Kevin Byard earned a Pro Bowl nod with a league-leading six interceptions-a great season, no doubt.
But Wright’s eight takeaways, including multiple game-changing plays, make a strong case that he should’ve been right there alongside him. And while Pro Bowl selections often come down to name recognition and past accolades, Wright’s breakout year deserved more than a passing glance.
At the end of the day, Parsons’ tweet isn’t just a show of support-it’s a spotlight. It’s a reminder that great seasons don’t always get the recognition they deserve, and that sometimes, the loudest voices for justice come from unexpected places-even across enemy lines.
So while the Bears and Packers won’t be exchanging holiday greetings anytime soon, this rare moment of mutual respect is worth noting. Because in a rivalry built on decades of hard hits and bad blood, it’s these unexpected acknowledgments that remind us the game is bigger than the colors on the jersey.