Byard Predicts Bigger Honors for “Snubbed” Teammate Wright

Chicago, IL – The NFL Pro Bowl roster announcement is often a mix of celebration and contention, and for the Chicago Bears, the mood was decidedly split. While safety Kevin Byard secured his third career selection, his teammate in the secondary, cornerback Nahshon Wright, was left on the outside looking in. Despite fans voting Wright the No. 1 cornerback in the NFC, the combined player and coach ballots left him off the final roster, sparking cries of a “snub” from the Chicago faithful.

Amidst the disappointment, it was Byard who stepped up to shift the perspective. The veteran safety didn’t just offer platitudes; he offered a history lesson from his own career to cushion the blow for the young corner.

“I already talked to him,” Byard revealed. “I told him in my opinion, I think he has a first-team All-Pro honor on the way. My second year in the league when I went first-team All-Pro, I was a second alternate.”

Byard’s message was clear: The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, but the All-Pro team—chosen by the Associated Press later in January—is the true measure of elite play. He urged Wright to look at the bigger picture, emphasizing that while disappointment is natural, the ultimate validation might still be coming.

Was Wright actually robbed? The case is complicated. On the surface, his resume screams Pro Bowl. Wright is tied for second in the league with five interceptions, has forced two fumbles, and recovered three more. He’s a turnover machine, which explains why the fans loved him.

However, the voters likely penalized him for the “boom or bust” nature of his play. While Wright takes the ball away, he also gives up points. He has allowed six touchdown passes this season (seven according to Pro Football Focus). When compared to other NFC selections, the logic gets murky. Carolina’s Jaycee Horn made the cut despite allowing the same number of touchdowns, though Horn boasted better coverage metrics elsewhere. Meanwhile, Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon secured a spot with significantly worse coverage numbers (91.2 passer rating against) and only one interception compared to Wright’s five.

Ultimately, it appears the coaches and players valued “lockdown” consistency over Wright’s high-risk, high-reward ball-hawking.

The frustration in Chicago isn’t just about one player. It reflects a broader feeling of disrespect toward a defense that has performed well. If Bears fans need fuel for their fire, they need only look at the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the Bears bludgeoning Dallas 31-14 at Soldier Field earlier this season, the Cowboys sent six players to the Pro Bowl compared to Chicago’s three.

Nahshon Wright has every right to feel aggrieved, especially after winning the fan vote. But as Kevin Byard reminded him, the story of his season isn’t written yet. If Wright lands on the All-Pro team in January, this Pro Bowl omission will be nothing more than a footnote in a breakout year. For now, the “snub” label sticks, but perhaps not as firmly as the chip on Wright’s shoulder heading into the season’s final stretch.