The Chicago Bears’ locker room reaction said plenty before the numbers ever did. Several Bears players were surprised Tuesday when cornerback Nahshon Wright was left off the NFL’s 2026 Pro Bowl roster, a decision that immediately drew pushback from teammates and fans alike. The league officially announced the Pro Bowl selections earlier in the day, igniting the annual debate over snubs and reputation-based voting. For a Bears team sitting at 11-4, with playoff football secured and fan voting dominance, the omission stood out.
Production That Demands a Second Look
Wright’s case is rooted in turnovers and impact. Through 15 games, he has recorded five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, ranking second in the entire NFL, trailing only teammate Kevin Byard, who earned a Pro Bowl nod. Wright has also added two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 11 passes defended, three tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. His season-long Pro Football Focus grade of 69.0 may not leap off the page, but his ability to change games does.
Context matters here. Wright arrived in Chicago after being discarded by both the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, making his emergence one of the Bears’ most effective reclamation stories. He has not just filled snaps, he has produced momentum-swinging plays in a secondary that has become opportunistic and physical.
Comparing the Competition
The snub becomes more glaring when lined up against Pro Bowl selections from the Philadelphia Eagles. Super Bowl champion cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean both made the cut.
Mitchell has posted 32 solo tackles, zero interceptions, no forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. DeJean has delivered a strong rookie season, 63 solo tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, a 77.2 PFF grade, and a 74.8 passer rating allowed. Wright, meanwhile, has 53 solo tackles, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and an 88.7 passer rating allowed.
While DeJean’s efficiency metrics are impressive, Wright’s turnover creation clearly outpaces both players. The perception among Bears fans is that Philadelphia benefited from a “reigning champions” halo rather than a strict production-based evaluation.
What Comes Next for Wright
There remains a realistic path to recognition. Wright could still be named a Pro Bowl alternate if another cornerback withdraws, a familiar route for Chicago fans after Mitch Trubisky earned his Pro Bowl appearance that way in 2018. It is not the same as an outright selection, but it still carries weight.
Regardless, Wright’s impact extends beyond awards. The Bears are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, have reached 11 wins for the first time since 2018, and are chasing their first postseason victory since 2010. Wright may have missed the Pro Bowl ballot, but his fingerprints are all over Chicago’s resurgence and that matters far more than a roster announcement.