Bears’ Darnell Wright Sounds off on Controversial Holding Call
The Chicago Bears suffered a tough break in their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, and right tackle Darnell Wright found himself at the center of controversy.
Darnell Wright Responds to Controversial Holding Call
Late in the game, Wright was flagged for a holding penalty that stalled what looked to be a promising drive for Chicago. After the game, Wright was asked about the call and sounded off on the call by the officials.
“It’s a simple, you tuck the jersey down, it’s a hold. If you knock the arms down it’s not. Obviously, you can see I knocked his arms down. He saw it the other way. It is what it is,” Wright explained.
His statement reflected the frustration of an offensive lineman who believed he executed the play correctly, only to see it penalized and change the tide of the game.
Offensive line play is often one of the most scrutinized and misunderstood aspects of football, with holding calls sometimes being subjective. For Wright, the call was particularly disheartening considering the overall quality of his performance against Minnesota. Despite being flagged for a false start and then for the controversial hold, Wright otherwise turned in one of his best games in a Bears uniform.
Wright’s Strong Performance Overshadows the Call
Against a tough Vikings front, Wright allowed zero pressures, recording an 86.0 pass-blocking grade and a 76.5 run-blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus.
His overall grade of 77.9 not only made him the highest-grade offensive lineman for Chicago but the top-graded Bear on offense altogether.
The holding penalty may have stolen headlines, but Wright’s overall dominance should not be overlooked. His ability to anchor the right side of the offensive line played a major role in limiting Minnesota’s defensive impact.
If Darnell Wright plays like he did last night, he'll earn himself a nice pay day.
— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) September 9, 2025
For a player entering his third year, Wright’s continued growth is one of the biggest positives for Chicago’s offense. His development not only helps protect Caleb Williams in the short term but also establishes long-term stability at one of the most important positions on the field.
While Bears fans rightfully feel frustrated about the timing of the penalty, Wright’s effort against Minnesota is a clear sign that he is evolving into a franchise cornerstone the team envisioned he would be when they drafted him in the first round back in 2023.
Wright himself appears focused on controlling what he can. His measured response, acknowledging the official’s explanation while standing by his technique, shows maturity and professionalism. If anything, it may even fuel his motivation to keep improving.
For the Bears, that’s exactly the kind of attitude they want from a leader in the trenches.
As the season moves forward, one controversial flag won’t define Wright’s performance. Instead, his clean pass blocking, physical run game, and growth as a reliable right tackle will stand out as one of the bright spots for Chicago.
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Questions NFL Over Controversial Travis Kelce Incident
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce took a shot to the facemask from Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart in Friday’s season opener, a hit that often leads to an ejection.
Tart was allowed to remain in the game, however, with an NFL analyst explaining that the manner in which the defensive tackle struck Kelce may have saved him from an early exit. Speaking to reporters this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid questioned the league over the decision.
Andy Reid: ‘I Don’t Understand’
Tart was flagged for unnecessary roughness after striking Kelce in the third quarter of the 27-21 loss for the Chiefs but was allowed to remain in the game. It was a costly decision for the Chiefs, as Tart and the Chargers hounded quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tart himself later knocked down a two-point conversion pass.
Though the league mandates that players are ejected for throwing a punch, NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay said during the game’s YouTube broadcast that Tart did not have a closed fist when he hit Kelce — meaning it was not technically a punch.
“According to (NFL officiating and rules analyst) Walt Anderson, they said because it was an open hand contact to the head that was not a disqualifying action,” McAulay said, via The Athletic. “On this one, they felt that it was just an open hand blow to the head, not a closed fist, not a punch, and they did not disqualify in this case.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Reid admitted that he did not understand why Tart was allowed to remain in the game. The Chiefs coach said he would be addressing the issue with the league.
“I don’t understand that rule,” Reid said, via NFL.com. “I guess it’s open-hand, fist, whatever, I don’t know. I don’t know what their decision was on that. But he definitely got hit in the head pretty hard, whether it was an open fist or a closed fist.”
Chiefs Fall Victim to Another NFL Punishment
While Tart likely awaits a fine for the incident, the league has already made a decision on another controversial incident that impacts the Chiefs. Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from his team’s season opener after spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott and faced a potential suspension for his team’s Week 2 game against the Chiefs.
The league announced on Tuesday that Carter would face a one-game suspension, but made the unusual decision to declare that his Week 1 ejection counted toward the punishment. That makes him eligible to play in Sunday’s game, which will be a critical test for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs already fell to 0-1 and could dig an even deeper hole in the Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles. Reid took the blame for the team’s slow start in the season opener, saying they would need to improve quickly.
“There were some good things mixed in there,” Reid said, via KMBC. “But there’s some things we’ve got to fix, and I know the players are aware of that, and the coaches are aware of it.
“So, we’ll get busy. We’ve got a good Eagles team coming in here and [we] look forward to playing them right here at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.”
