Nahshon Wright, a cornerback for the Bears, was deeply affected after his former coach, John Beam, was shot and succumbed to his injuries shortly after. This tragic news hit him hard, clearly evident in his heartfelt social media tribute to Beam.
During Friday’s game, as the second half drew to a close, Wright made a significant play—he retrieved the ball in the end zone, knelt down, and placed his hands on his head in a moment of reflection.
Teammates rushed over to celebrate with him, acknowledging the importance of the moment. A prior interception by Jordan Addison of the Vikings had kept Minnesota from closing the gap, allowing the Bears to maintain a 10-3 advantage.
This interception marked Wright’s fourth this season, and notably, his second against the Vikings, a team he’d previously played for. The Bears ultimately triumphed over Minnesota with a score of 19-17, improving their record to 7-3.
Fans took to social media to express their sentiments, many highlighting the emotional weight of Wright’s play. One fan’s comment stood out: “It’s really heartwarming to see Nahshon Wright get an INT in honor of his former coach who changed his and his brother’s lives. There are bigger things than football tearing up John Beam.”
Wright had played under Beam at Cal State Laney College in 2018, helping the team secure a state title that year. After news of Beam’s passing broke, Wright shared several touching images on X, reminiscing about their time together.
“I’m really heartbroken right now,” he shared. “Beam is the most down-to-earth person I’ve ever met. When my dad was shot, he knocked on my door and got me and my brother out of bed, and the rest is history. I’m glad I got to talk to you one last time before all this happened. I miss sitting in that office and talking about life and football and economics and walking around those railroad tracks. I could write a book about you. I will love you forever, Beam.”
Unfortunately, Beam was fatally shot at a campus event on Thursday, a situation described by authorities as a “very targeted incident.” A suspect, 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr., has been arrested on murder charges.
John Beam was not just the school’s athletic director but also a former head coach, known for his appearance in the Netflix series “Last Chance U” back in 2020.
