Former Viking Turned Pro Bowler Signs with Jets
Some called him an example of “the one that got away,” and now former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Nahshon Wright will be a New York Jet in 2026.
Minnesota barely used him before his career took off elsewhere.
Wright completely revitalized his career in 2025 — similar to that of another former Vikings cornerback, Duke Shelley, in 2022 — and will try the Jets on for size.
A Brief Vikings Stop Preceded Wright’s Sudden Rise
Remember Wright? He’s on the move.
Wright to NYJ
The Jets have made yet another defensive move, with head coach Aaron Glenn assembling his band.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini wrote Tuesday, “The New York Jets, the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception, agreed to terms Tuesday with former Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright, sources told ESPN. Wright will sign a one-year contract that can be worth up to $5.5 million, a source said.”
“He brings much-needed playmaking to the Jets’ secondary. Wright made a career-high five interceptions last season, along with 11 pass breakups. At 6-foot-4, he’s a long, athletic corner that fits what coach Aaron Glenn prefers in a man-to-man scheme. Wright is likely to start opposite Brandon Stephens. On Monday, the Jets acquired former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.”
Spotrac expected Wright to earn a contract worth north of $17 million per season. That was emphatically false.
A Pro Bowl Campaign in 2025
Wright held opposing quarterbacks to an 86.8 passer rating this season for the Bears. He also snagged five interceptions and posted a 65.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. Those numbers painted the picture of a defender who delivered steady and unforeseen output in Chicago’s secondary.
He represented a revelation for the upstart Bears, as last summer, most fans interpreted him as a practice-squad type, much like his stint with the Vikings in 2024. Instead, Wright became one of the NFL’s most pleasant surprises, earning the Pro Bowl nod for his troubles.
Some consider his success a flash-in-the-pan ordeal — think: right place at the right time — but he’ll get a chance to disprove that narrative in The Big Apple. The snaps will be there.
The Athletic‘s Dan Wiederer on Wright’s 2025 revival: “Wright, who was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November after contributing a takeaway in all five Chicago Bears victories that month, was one of the many bright spots inside of a feel-good Bears season in 2025.”
“His bond with Chicago defensive backs coach Al Harris was instrumental to his emergence — the two have a relationship that dates to their three seasons together in Dallas, where Wright started his career. But Wright also seized the opportunity that came his way in training camp, becoming a starter when an injury to Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson pushed him into a heightened role.”
Wright’s Time in Minnesota
The Vikings acquired Wright via trade from the Dallas Cowboys for Andrew Booth in August 2024. However, Wright’s tenure in Minnesota was brief, lasting only about eight months. Booth, a 2022 2nd-Round pick by Minnesota who never gained traction, was traded to Dallas for Wright by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Despite the change of scenery, Wright also struggled to earn a consistent role on the Vikings’ active roster. After being released during final roster cuts late in the summer, he was signed to the practice squad, where he spent most of the 2024 season. He was elevated to the active roster for a single game, playing exclusively on special teams.
Notably, Wright did not record any defensive snaps in a regular-season game for either Dallas or Minnesota in 2024. As a result, his departure to the Bears in the following offseason went largely unnoticed by Vikings fans, as practice squad players rarely attract significant attention when they leave.
The Jets’ Free Agent Haul So Far
Here’s the full breakdown of the Jets’ free agency through a day and a half:
- Joseph Ossai (EDGE) CIN → NYJ
- David Onyemata (DT) ATL → NYJ
- Demario Davis (LB) NO → NYJ
- Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE) GB → NYJ
- Nahshon Wright(CB) CHI → NYJ
- Dane Belton (CB) NYG → NYJ
- Andrew Beck (FB) NYJ → NYJ
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Jets have also orchestrated trades for these men:
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (S)
- Geno Smith (QB)
- T’Vondre Sweat (DT)
If the Smith plan at quarterback — New York fired off that trade on Tuesday, wiping Smith off the Vikings’ would-be quarterback list — works, the Jets may be onto something in 2026.
Wright will turn 28 in September. He and Belton have big shoes to fill, replacing Sauce Gardner, who was traded to the Indianapolis Colts four months ago.
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