The Chicago Bears are looking to turn around their franchise in 2025. After getting their quarterback of the future last off-season, Chicago went out and got their head coach this off-season. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson have escalated expectations for the Bears going into 2025.
However, one star wants to be paid sooner rather than later if they want him to be part of their turnaround.
“I Need A Discussion” Bears Star Goes Public With Contract Frustrations (Statement)
There are hints that a key Chicago star will be negotiating a new contract after landing on NFI list:
With Bears training camp set to kick off this week, the team’s roster news has taken an interesting turn. Just days before camp begins, four players were placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list: cornerback Jaylon Johnson, quarterback Case Keenum, running back Ian Wheeler, and un-drafted free agent wide receiver Jahdae Walker. Among those names, one player has sparked conversation well beyond the injury report, raising contract speculation at a critical time.
That player is Jaylon Johnson, who appeared on The Rich Eisen Show alongside WWE star Seth Rollins. Rollins, recently sidelined with a knee injury but expected to return for a major WWE event later this year, praised Johnson for landing his extension.
Johnson responded candidly: ‘Things are going really good, I’m just seeing a lot of the other corners getting paid. I almost feel like we might have to have another discussion. The market is moving. As long as I just keep being myself and playing at a high level, definitely will have to be some conversations coming up soon.’
Johnson originally signed a four-year, $76 million extension with Chicago on March 7, 2024, which included $54 million in guarantees and an average annual salary of $19 million. But his comments arrive just after Sauce Gardner reset the cornerback market with a four-year, $120.4 million deal from the Jets on July 15, 2025, making him the highest-paid CB in NFL history at $30.1 million per year.
The timing of Johnson landing on the NFI list only adds intrigue. While no details about his injury have been disclosed, some fans and media have speculated that this could be a strategic move related to contract leverage. For now, the Bears will hope to resolve any uncertainty as camp officially gets underway.
