Darnell Wright
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Darnell Wright
| image = Darnell Wright.png
| alt =
| caption = Wright in 2023
| current_team = Chicago Bears
| number = 58
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|8|10}}
| birth_place = Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 333
| high_school = Huntington (Huntington)
| college = Tennessee (2019–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 10
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2023)
- First-team All-SEC (2022)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games started
| statvalue1 = 33
| statlabel2 = Games played
| statvalue2 = 33
| pfr = WrigDa00
}}
Darnell Marquies Wright (born August 10, 2001) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by the Bears tenth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.
Early life
Wright was born on August 10, 2001, in Huntington, West Virginia. In his first years of football, Wright played in the Beverly Hills Youth Football League.{{Cite web |last=Payton |first=Joseph |date=2023-05-03 |title=Darnell Wright’s dominance began in Beverly Hills Youth Football League |url=https://www.wsaz.com/2023/05/03/darnell-wrights-dominance-began-beverly-hills-youth-football-league/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=WSAZ |language=en}} He attended Huntington High School where he participated in track & field, football, and basketball.{{Cite web |last=Treacy |first=Jim |date=April 28, 2023 |title=An historic night for Huntington High alum |url=https://www.wsaz.com/2023/04/28/historic-night-huntington-high-alum/ |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=WSAZ.com |language=en}} Wright won the 2017 Class AAA State Basketball Championship playing for Huntington High,{{Cite web |title=SENATE RESOLUTION 73 (By Senators Woelfel, Plymale, Stollings, Unger and Beach) [Introduced April 6, 2017] |url=https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2017_SESSIONS/RS/Bills/sr73%20intr.htm |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=West Virginia Legislature}} and won the state title for shot-put in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Fishbain |first=Kevin |date=April 28, 2023 |title=Bears OT Darnell Wright's high school coach: 'Whatever this man wants to do, he can do it' |url=https://theathletic.com/4465258/2023/04/28/bears-darnell-wright-history/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} He was selected his sophomore year for the 2016 Class AAA Football All-State Second Offensive Team,{{Cite web |last=MetroNews |date=December 11, 2016 |title=2016 Class AAA high school football all-state teams |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2016/12/11/2016-class-aaa-high-school-football-all-state-teams/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}} and selected for the 2017 and 2018 Class AAA Football All-State First Offensive Teams.{{Cite web |date=December 10, 2017 |title=2017 Class AAA high school football all-state teams |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2017/12/10/2017-class-aaa-high-school-football-all-state-teams/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2018 |title=Class AAA All-State Football Team |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2018/12/09/class-aaa-all-state-football-team-2/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}} He was named to the roster for the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game.{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2018 |title=2019 Under Armour All-America Game rosters revealed |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2018/2019-under-armour-all-america-game-rosters-revealed |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=USA TODAY High School Sports |language=en-US}} A five-star recruit, Wright committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.{{Cite web |last=Clay |first=Jarrod |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Huntington's Darnell Wright signs with Tennessee |url=https://wchstv.com/sports/top-sports/huntingtons-darnell-wright-signs-with-tennessee |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=WCHS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Greg |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Huntington's Darnell Wright opts for Tennessee over West Virginia |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2019/02/06/huntingtons-darnell-wright-opts-for-tennessee-over-west-virginia/ |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}}
College career
As a freshman in 2019, Wright played in 11 games and recorded seven starts.{{Cite web |last=Rill |first=Jake |date=August 16, 2021 |title=Darnell Wright shares why he never considered transferring from Tennessee |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/tennessee-football/darnell-wright-shares-why-he-never-considered-transferring-from-tennessee/ |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}} He was named to the 2019 Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team as a result.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2019 |title=2019 SEC All-Freshman Football Team announced |url=https://www.secsports.com/article/28283246/2019-sec-all-freshman-football-team-announced |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=SEC Sports}} Wright made nine starts in 2020 and 13 in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Mike |date=August 5, 2022 |title=Why Darnell Wright moved back to right tackle for Tennessee football |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2022/08/05/tennessee-football-darnell-wright-right-tackle/10187298002/ |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en-US}} Entering the 2022 season, Wright was projected as a top prospect in the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Harralson |first=Dan |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Darnell Wright projected as a 2023 first-round draft pick |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/darnell-wright-projected-2023-first-172724039.html |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Yahoo! Sports}} He was named first-team All-SEC for his performance in the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Lay |first=Ken |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Darnell Wright named First-Team All-SEC |url=https://volswire.usatoday.com/2022/12/06/tennessee-vols-football-offensive-lineman-darnell-wright-named-first-team-all-sec/ |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=Vols Wire |publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} Wright played 2,746 offensive snaps in 47 games (42 starts) - 27 at right tackle, two at right guard and 13 at left tackle for the Volunteers.{{Cite web |title=Darnell Wright - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/darnell-wright/15002 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Darnell Wright (OL): Bio, News, Stats & more |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/darnell-wright/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=ChicagoBears.com |language=en-US}} He participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl game representing the American Team under Chicago Bears' Offensive Coordinator, Luke Getsy.{{Cite web |last=Callihan |first=Schuyler |date=February 1, 2023 |title=2023 Reese's Senior Bowl Rosters |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/2023-reeses-senior-bowl-rosters |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 3/8
| weight = 333
| dash = 5.01
| ten split = 1.81
| twenty split = 2.90
| shuttle = 4.72
| vertical = 29.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 6
| arm span = 33 3/4
| hand span = 9
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |title=Darnell Wright Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/darnell-wright/32005752-4915-3639-216c-bcc7afd9f5d5 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Darnell Wright College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1030963&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Wright was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round as the tenth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=April 27, 2023 |title=Bears trade down, draft Tennessee OT Darnell Wright at No. 10 |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/darnell-wright-nfl-draft-offensive-tackle-tennessee-10th-overall-pick |access-date=June 19, 2023 |website=ChicagoBears.com}} As a rookie, Wright started in all 17 games.{{Cite web |title=Darnell Wright 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrigDa00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He had 1,133 snaps played, 7 penalties, 7 sacks allowed, 3 hits, 41 hurries, 51 pressures and was named in the Top 5 Most Impactful Bears of 2023 by USA Today Sports.{{Cite web |last=Barbieri |first=Alyssa |last2=Sugrue |first2=Brendan |date=January 25, 2024 |title=15 Most Impactful Bears of 2023: No. 5 Darnell Wright |url=https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/most-impactful-chicago-bears-2023-darnell-wright/ |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=Bears Wire |publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} Wright was additionally selected for the 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Bucky |author-link=Bucky Brooks |date=January 18, 2024 |title=2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: Lions, Rams each boast four selections; Texans clearly nailed top-three picks |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-all-rookie-team-lions-rams-each-boast-four-selections-texans-clearly-nailed-top-three-picks |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}} In the 2024 season, he appeared in and started 16 games.{{Cite web |title=Darnell Wright 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrigDa00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="7"| Offense | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Snaps | Holding | False Start || Illegal Shift | ||
| 2023 | CHI
| 17 || 17 || 1133 || 6 || 5||0 | |||||
| 2024 | CHI
| 15 || 15 || 959 || 2 || 4 ||1 | |||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrigDa00.htm Career] | 32 | 32 | 2,092 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Twitter|darnell_5232}}
- {{Instagram|darnell_is_a_baller}}
- [https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/darnell-wright/ Chicago Bears bio]
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/darnell-wright/15002 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{Chicago Bears roster navbox}}
{{2023 NFL Draft}}
{{BearsFirstPick}}
{{Bears2023DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Darnell}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Huntington High School (West Virginia) alumni
Category:Players of American football from West Virginia
Category:Sportspeople from Huntington, West Virginia
Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players