The Chicago Bears‘ 2025 season was a magical one. While it didn’t end in a Super Bowl title, the Bears won the NFC North and beat the Green Bay Packers in Chicago for their first playoff win in a few years.

One of the main reasons for such a breakout year for the Bears, other than Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, was the surprise elite performance from cornerback Nahshon Wright. He made the Pro Bowl roster and earned a $5.5 million payday from the New York Jets.

But that’s not all Wright got from his Bears season. According to Brian McCarthy of the NFL, Wright earned the most of any player in the NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program from 2025, earning over $1.4 million from his surprise breakout season.

Bears CB Nahshon Wright earns $1.4M from NFL for 2025 performance

“NFL players will receive more than $542 million in Performance-Based Pay for their performance during the 2025 season,” McCarthy shares.

Wright came in first place among all NFL players from 2025, earning $1,441,387 for his 2025 season with the Bears. A breakout year not only landed Wright a $5.5 million contract with the Jets but also an extra $1.44 million from the NFL.

The 27-year-old cornerback posted some very strong numbers in 2025, recording five interceptions (including one pick-six), two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 80 tackles, three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and a passer rating allowed of 86.8.

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While it might not have been the best season by a cornerback last year, for Wright, who had started just three games in the four years before 2025, it was the breakout year he had been looking for.

Wright has earned recognition for his breakout year from the Jets with his new contract, the league for his Pro Bowl honors, and now the Performance-Based Pay program in the form of a $1,441,387 payout.

The Bears didn’t elect to bring him back this offseason, and he’s now widely been viewed as a steal for the Jets at just $5.5 million for one year. If he can piece together another strong year, Wright would be in line for an even bigger payday come 2027.

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