It’ll be a head-to-head battle of former teammates on Sunday night when Byron Young’s Los Angeles Rams take on Darnell Wright’s Chicago Bears in the NFL Playoffs divisional round. With Young lining up as an EDGE rusher for the Rams and Wright protecting the right side of the Bears’ offensive line, the two former Tennessee players will be directly competing against each other with a spot for their team in the conference championship on the line.
Wright and Young spent two seasons as teammates in Knoxville in 2021 and 2022. Wright had been with Tennessee for the two previous seasons in 2019 and 2020, but Young had just transferred onto Josh Heupel’s inaugural roster after playing at Georgia Military College in the JUCO ranks. Both players were instrumental in helping the Vols find success during Heupel’s startup years on Rocky Top, going 18-8 in those two seasons.
Pro Football Focus named Wright vs Young as one of the top eight player matchups that the weekend’s playoff slate will have to offer.
“Not enough NFL fans know just how good Young has been this season,” PFF’s Bradley Locker writes. “Among qualified edge defenders, he ranks ninth in overall PFF grade (85.6), tied for 11th in PFF pass-rush grade (83.8) and seventh in PFF run-defense grade (78.3). All told, Young is tied for 10th at the position in PFF Wins Above Replacement.
“The Bears’ offensive line was one of the best in the league this year, and Wright’s breakout was a major catalyst. The third-year tackle ties for 12th among qualified tackles in overall PFF grade (81.7), and his 3.2% pressure rate trails only Garett Bolles.”
We’ve seen this matchup before 👀#NFLVols | #GBO 🍊 https://t.co/dMSDmIdByM pic.twitter.com/8Yh6g05fb4
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 16, 2026
More From RTI: Former Tennessee Special Teams Coordinator Mike Ekeler Likely on the Move Again
During his final season in Knoxville, Darnell Wright was selected to the 2022 First Team All-SEC roster. He was also a two-time SEC player of the week during his final run in Knoxville, coming in games against Alabama and Kentucky. Wright parlayed his success in Josh Heupel’s system into the No. 10 overall pick by the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Wright played 2,746 offensive snaps during his first-year tenure in Knoxville, something that is hardly seen in the game just a few years later.
Young, meanwhile, flourished on the other side of the ball when he arrived to Tennessee. The SEC level was a step up in competition, but Young proved he belonged. He was named a First Team All-SEC selection during his final year and earned the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week nod twice in games against Pitt and LSU. Young was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the 77th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and quickly proved to be an important player in the L.A. defense.
Young started 21 of his 24 games on Rocky Top.
Wright’s Bears will host Young’s Rams at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday night in Chicago with a spot in the NFC Championship up for grabs. The game can be seen on NBC.
