Ben Johnson on what Bears missed without Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon
Bears head coach Ben Johnson knows Chicago is better with cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon out on the field.
The Chicago Bears dealt with their share of injury struggles last offseason, most notably at cornerback where two-time Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and nickel Kyler Gordon missed most of the 2025 season. Johnson was limited to just seven games last season after suffering a groin injury before training camp that carried over into the regular season. Meanwhile, Gordon appeared in just three games with multiple stints on injured reserve.
Both were on the field for the team's divisional playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams, but there was a lot of time lost. "It's almost like we're starting over completely again this spring in terms of relationship building and starting off on the right track," head coach Ben Johnson said, via ChicagoBears. com .
"But we're a better team, we're certainly a better defense, when those two guys are out there. There's a reason why they're paid the way they're paid. We need them out there.
" Despite leading the NFL in takeaways (33) and interceptions (23), the Bears defense left a lot to be desired on the field in 2025. A big reason for that, outside of struggling to get after the quarterback, was the absences of Johnson and Gordon in the secondary. "The tighter they are in coverage, the better our pass rush is going to be," Johnson said.