Bears News: Darnell Wright excited to learn from Thuney, Jackson and Dalman

Ariana Pensy - Correspondent - Thursday, April 10 2025

CHICAGO - The projected starting lineup for the Chicago Bears’ offensive line looks drastically different from the lineup last season after trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson as well as signing center Drew Dalman. One person who was on the lineup last season who is expected to remain a starter is right tackle Darnell Wright who will be starting his third season this year.

While Wright played well in his first two seasons, the Bears lacked continuity on the offensive line as a whole. In fact, Wright has been one of their most consistent starters, missing just one game in his first two seasons.

With the three offensive linemen Chicago brought in during the offseason, it seems there may finally be some consistency in who Wright will be playing alongside, something he greatly appreciates.

“That’s really the only thing that I really ever wanted is consistency with the people they bring in,” Wright said. “I know (general manager) Poles, he does a good job and he does his job and I try to do mine and I know the guys he brings in will be of the standard that we need. So, just seeing him really focus on that aspect of it, just being the o-line, I appreciate it and I think that it’ll be good.”

One of Poles’ additions was a change in head coach from Matt Eberflus to Ben Johnson. When Johnson was with the Detroit Lions, they were known for their stellar offensive line, specifically Penei Sewell at right tackle. Sewell was a Pro-Bowler his second year in the league but made a huge jump in his third season to become an All-Pro; he was also an All-Pro this past season.

Given the performance of Detroit’s offensive line, Sewell’s performance, and the Bears playing the Lions twice a season, Wright has had ample opportunity to study Sewell’s film and learn a few things from watching him.

The hope is that Wright will make a jump in his third year comparable to Sewell’s jump in his third season.

“They’re o-line as a whole, (you) can tell there’s a lot of veteran guys with a lot of experience, something we didn’t really have last year or at least just speaking from my position, not a lot of experience just in years playing. You could tell they were a really cohesive unit, a lot of things you can learn from them. They’re a good o-line,” Wright said. “(Sewell) being one of the (greater) players as far as offensive line (today), I watch him all the time and just (because) his body type, I feel like, is similar to mine … Being in the same conference obviously, his tape comes up anyway. So, (I am) always watching him. So, try to emulate some of the things he does.”

Being able to learn from a coach who was part of Detroit’s stellar offensive line units, as well as getting to learn from Thuney, Jackson, and Dalman, surely will benefit Wright’s development as a player.

Between the three of them, they have 18 years of experience and knowledge they can pass along to Wright and the rest of Chicago’s young offensive linemen.

“For me, just selfishly, I think it’s great. I could take so much from those guys, learn so much from them. They’ve been to the highest places, Super Bowl winners,” Wright said. “So, just selfishly and obviously it will benefit the team, but I think it’ll be good.”

Chicago could still try to add another offensive lineman in the NFL Draft, which starts on Thursday, April 24, in Green Bay. Currently, the Bears have seven draft picks.