Chicago Bears right tackle Darnell Wright changed the offensive line market when he received his four-year, $116 million contract extension. This contract makes him the highest paid right tackle in the NFL based on average salary and second-highest among all offensive linemen in the league.
Head coach Ben Johnson made it one of his top goals when he came to Chicago to solidify the offensive line. This primarily happened through trades and free agent signings, but Wright was the only player on the 2024 offensive line that was a starter throughout the 2025 season.
“It’s a prime example that potential and talent gets you into a building, but then how you work, you go about your business, how you grow every single day, that’s what gets you a long-term contract like he’s got right now,” Johnson said.
“He really embraces what we’re trying to build here. I’ve been here for a year-and-a-half and I don’t know that I’ve seen a guy improve as much as him—more so from a consistency standpoint than anything else. He’s always had it in him in flashes, but the way he played a year ago, it was no secret that we really relied on that right side of the offensive line for our run game engine to go and he was a huge part of that. And the way he’s attacked this offseason, what he’s looked like so far in camp, I think the future is really bright for him.
“That’s the message that the young guys get.”
The Bears now have three starting offensive linemen signed for the foreseeable future. Wright is signed through 2030 while All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and Pro Bowl right guard Jonah Jackson are signed through the 2028 season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ben Johnson reacts to Bears RT Darnell Wright’s contract extension
Reporting by Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
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By Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
