Sports

Bears CB Nahshon Wright gets emotional after interception following death of his former coach John Beam

Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright took the field with a heavy heart Sunday. Wright's former coach, Laney College's John Beam, was shot on campus Thursday and died from his injuries Friday. He was 66.

With the Minnesota Vikings driving in the second quarter, Wright made one of the best plays of the day. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy tried to hit Jordan Addison in the end zone on a 30-yard pass. Wright played the ball perfectly, and then launched his 6-foot-4 frame into the air to highpoint the ball for an interception.

After making the play, Wright took a knee in the end zone and appeared to get emotional on the field. He was surrounded by a few teammates during the moment. 

After the contest, Wright spoke about Beam's impact on his life.

"He meant the world to me. When my dad was killed, he came to my house and got me out the bed," Wright said. "(He was) someone I could confide in, someone that I just, I love dearly. We talked once a week, easily. Really at a loss for words."

Wright spent one year under Beam at Laney, a community college in Oakland. Wright helped the team win the California Community College Athletic Association state championship in 2018 before transferring to Oregon State, where he spent the rest of his college career.

Wright said that his father was killed in 2017, around his time at Laney.

"Beam stepped in as a father figure," he said. "He did a lot for me and my brother, my family. He's been there every step of the way."

Wright's performance at both schools was enough to get him selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent his first three NFL seasons with the Cowboys before being traded to the Vikings ahead of the 2024 NFL season.

He lasted just one season with the team. The Vikings cut Wright in April, paving the way for him to join the Bears. While Wright wasn't signed to be a starter, various injuries to the Bears' secondary pushed him into a starting role. 

He's rewarded the team with a few key turnovers. In addition to Sunday's interception, Wright also returned an interception for a touchdown against the Vikings in Week 1, recovered a fumble to help Chicago beat the Washington Commanders in Week 6 and intercepted a Joe Flacco pass to stop a Cincinnati Bengals comeback in Week 9. 

Beam became a well-known name after starring in "Last Chance U," a Netflix documentary that focused on college football players trying to establish themselves. Laney College was featured on the show in 2020. While Wright didn't make an appearance on the show, his younger brother Rejzohn was shown on it. 

Beam coached Laney from 2012 to 2024 before stepping down. He was serving as the school's athletic director prior to his death Friday.

Police arrested one suspect, 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr., Friday in connection with Beam's shooting.

Rams lead Seahawks 14-9 at halftime

The Rams scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter and still have a 14-9 lead at halftime.

Los Angeles was not able to score on its first possession, with a pass on fourth-and-1 inside the 10-yard line falling incomplete. But after a Sam Darnold interception, Kyren Williams converted on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to give Los Angeles a 7-0 lead.

Following a 57-yard field goal by Jason Myers, Davante Adams’ 1000th career catch was a 1-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a 14-3 advantage.

That play also made Adams just the second player to catch at least 10 TDs in a season for three different teams, joining Brandon Marshall.

But the Rams largely stalled offensively after those drives, with the club finishing the first half 1-of-5 on third down. Stafford was 7-of-13 passing for 50 yards with a touchdown. Williams had six carries for 76 yards with a TD, including a 34-yard run.

Darnold’s interception was his seventh of the season, and gave him one in each of Seattle’s last four games, and five out of the last six. He ended the first half 10-of-16 for 92 yards.

Kenneth Walker had six carries for 37 yards, including a 25-yard run — which was the longest rush the Rams have surrendered this year. The previous long was 13 yards.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has five receptions for 63 yards, including an impressive one-handed catch along the sideline that moved the chains.

Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight has been diagnosed with a concussion and will not return.

The Seahawks, who scored a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter, will have the ball again to start the second half. Myers now has the all-time lead in franchise history with 813 points.

Browns up 13-3 after Devin Bush interception return TD

The Browns offense couldn't get in the end zone after the first Ravens turnover on Sunday and the Browns defense didn't give them a chance to redeem themselves after the second one.

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell let a Lamar Jackson pass go off his hands and Browns linebacker Devin Bush snagged it for a 23-yard touchdown return. The score pushed the Browns' lead to 13-3 halfway through the second quarter.

The Browns took the lead a few minutes earlier on Andre Szmyt's second field goal of the first half. It was a 24-yard kick for Szmyt on a drive that started on the Ravens' 6-yard line after LaJohntay Wester muffed a punt and Browns safety Grant Delpit recovered it.

Myles Garrett has a pair of sacks already for the Browns and Cleveland's offensive struggles mean that their defense will have to keep the pressure on to come up with a win over their divisional rivals.

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