Bear Down, Darnell Wright.
After just one debut season in The Windy City, former Tennessee Vol and Chicago Bears rookie offensive tackle Darnell Wright has earned himself a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association’s NFL All-Rookie team.
The 6-foot-6, 333-pound right tackle was taken by the Bears with the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft and was critical in protecting (and clearing a path for) Chicago quarterback Justin Fields.
Wright started the entire season for Chicago and finished the year playing an astounding 99.6 percent of the Bears’ offensive snaps. In fact, according to the Bears’ team website, no other Chicago player played more than Wright on either side of the ball.
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The native of Huntington, W. Va., originally joined the Tennessee program prior to the 2019 season. Wright made an impact in his first season with the Vols but continued to flourish as his career went on. When head coach Josh Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee took over prior to the 2021 season, Wright’s career took off.
During his four-year career with the Vols, Wright was a 2019 Freshman All-SEC team selection, a two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, a 2022 All-SEC First Team selection from AP, Coaches, and USA Today, and a 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl participant.
Wright was instrumental in protecting quarterback Hendon Hooker during his final two years on Rocky Top, concluding his career in Knoxville without allowing a single sack in the span of his final 19 games.
Darnell Wright was projected to be a landmark tackle in the NFL and showed that and more during his first season with the Chicago Bears.
Wright is one of two Tennessee rookies to land on the NFL All-Rookie team this season alongside Rams rookie EDGE rusher Byron Young.
