Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright has earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for November after generating five takeaways in five games.
The fifth-year pro produced three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in helping the Bears go 5-0 in November, the first time they've won five games in a single month since November 1959.
Wright recorded one takeaway in each of the five wins, making him the first Bears player to create takeaways in five straight games since at least 1970. He intercepted Joe Flacco's desperation pass to seal a 47-42 comeback victory over the Bengals and recovered a Jaxson Dart fumble that was forced by C.J. Gardner-Johnson, swinging the momentum in the Bears' direction in a 24-20 win over the Giants.
Wright's last three takeaways all have been All-Pro caliber. He made sensational leaping interceptions in victories over the Vikings and Steelers and then ripped the ball away from quarterback Jalen Hurts on a tush push play in a win over the Eagles.
When Wright signed with the Bears in April, he was expected to be a reserve. But he has worked with the No. 1 defense since the spring due to an injury to Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
"It means a lot just to be recognized around the league," Wright said. "It definitely means a lot coming the journey I'd had. Originally, for me, it was just to come in, hit the ground running, and my original goal was just to make the 53. And then things kind of shook out the way they did. I was given the opportunity … It definitely is super cool to come from where I came from and be where I'm at now."
Wright's five takeaways were the most by an NFL player in the month of November since Bengals safety Reggie Nelson had five in 2015 and the most by a Bears player in any month since Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher had five in December 2007.
Wright's eight takeaways this year on five interceptions and three fumble recoveries lead the NFL. He's the first Bears player with at least five interceptions and three fumble recoveries in a season since linebacker Wilber Marshall in 1986.
"He's been huge for us," said defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. "He's a guy that had to step up in the absence of a couple other guys, and he stepped up in a big way for us. He continues to find his way around the football, continues to make plays, and really that's what this game is about. Really pleased with what we've seen out of him.
"Every week during training camp, I saw a guy that continued to get better. Any time you've got a guy that's got talent and intelligence and they're willing to work, those guys get better, and that's exactly what he's done. He's come in every single day, put his head down, went to work, tried to do the things we're asking him to do. He's reaping some of the benefits and we're reaping some of the benefits of that."
Wright is the 10th Bears player to win an NFC Defensive Player of the Month Award and the first since defensive end Robert Quinn in November 2021. In addition, Wright is the team's fourth defensive back to earn the award, joining cornerbacks Tim Jennings in September 2012 and Charles Tillman in October 2012 and safety Eddie Jackson in November 2018.
