The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers has always been intense, but it may have reached a fever pitch this season. The Packers loaded up their roster by acquiring star pass rusher Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys last August, and head coach Ben Johnson’s arrival has helped the Bears go from worst to first by establishing a new culture in Chicago.
As a result, two fan bases who weren’t going to exchange Christmas cards anyway had a new reason to loathe one another. But it hasn’t stopped the players involved from giving each other kudos for a good season.
Parsons was one of those players as he took to social media after finding out current Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright wasn’t selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday morning. While Bears fans may find Wright’s snub shocking, it was almost as surprising that Parsons was on their side, vouching for his former teammate in a post on his X account.
“Nahshon Wright getting snubbed for first team Pro Bowl selection is crazy!!” Parsons wrote.
Nahshon Wright Is the Bears’ Biggest Pro Bowl Snub
When Bears fans see past the green and gold, they’re probably in agreement with the Packers superstar. Picked up as a free agent this past spring, Wright has been one of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s biggest reclamation projects in Chicago, leading the NFL with eight takeaways, including five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Wright’s candidacy isn’t just a measure of stat counting either, as his turnovers have come in big moments. His five turnovers in November helped him earn the NFC Defensive Player of the Month Award, as well as helping the Bears earn a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing and recovering a Jalen Hurts fumble on a “tush push” that fueled a 24-15 victory on the road.
The accomplishments also include a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in Week 1 against the Vikings and several sideline and toe-tapping grabs that would make someone wonder if he spent time at wide receiver.
Getting support from a division rival feels strange, but Wright and Parsons are far from strangers. The duo joined the Dallas Cowboys as 2021 draft picks, with Parsons and Wright being taken in the first and third rounds, respectively. They then played three seasons together before Wright was traded to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2024 season. He only played one game with the NFC North franchise before switching allegiances to the Bears just over eight months ago.
In the end, Parsons might just be shoving aside the rivalry to make sure Wright gets credit for the spectacular season he’s been having. It's also in defense of someone he played with during Wright's three seasons in Dallas.
But it also echoes the cries of Bears fans who also watched Kevin Byard earn a Pro Bowl nod on the strength of an NFL-high six interceptions. But it is also a strange sight for Bears fans to see that validates their stance on one of their top defensive players.