The Chicago Bears were among the most hyped teams in the NFL heading into last season, and arguably the biggest disappointment by the team the year ended.
Chicago went 5-12 on the season and lost 10 consecutive games following a 4-2 start. That disastrous stretch resulted in even more tumult than was already present in the locker room, as the front office first booted offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and eventually fired head coach Matt Eberflus.
A new head coach in Ben Johnson entered the organization this offseason and is bringing with him a history of highly successful offense over three years as a coordinator for the Detroit Lions. The majority of Chicago’s personnel upgrades have come on the offensive side of the football, while it’s the defense that can benefit from roster continuity heading into 2025.
The Bears extended defensive back Kyler Gordon in April on a three-year deal worth $40 million total, making him the highest-paid slot cornerback in league history. The former second-round pick in 2022 (No. 39 overall) spoke with RG.org on Wednesday, June 11, and issued some intense goals/expectations for himself, the entire defense and the team as a whole.
“First and foremost, beat all our conference rivals, then playoffs,” Gordon said. “NFC Championship. Super Bowl. As a team: 20 interceptions, 20 fumble recoveries for a total of 40 turnovers. For myself, I’d like 10 turnovers: six-plus interceptions, four or five fumbles and 125 tackles.”
Gordon has tallied 17 pass breakups, five interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles over his three-year professional career to this point. He’s also tallied a total of 207 combined tackles, including nine tackles for loss, across 42 games played (34 starts), per Pro Football Reference.
Bears Have Committed Big Money to Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon
GettyChicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
Gordon, who will play next season at 26 years old, also spoke candidly about two-time Pro-Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who has been his teammate for Gordon’s entire time in Chicago.
“We’re competitive [with each other] in the sense that we’re trying to see who’s going to make the most plays, who’s going to be collecting those moments. Competitive in that, but always pushing each other to be the best,” Gordon said. “He’s a very smart, very intelligent football player. He’s also got a very determined, very hard work ethic. I love that he brings that to the table. I feel like I learned a lot from him. He’s been there for me, showing me things and helping me get acclimated into the system.”
Johnson also recently inked a monster extension, signing a four-year deal worth $76 million total in May 2024.
Bears Could Pursue Trade for Jalen Ramsey, Jaire Alexander in Free Agency to Bolster Secondary
GettyMiami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
NFL insiders have connected Chicago to a potential trade for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is looking to move on from the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins also want to deal the star defender.
The problem is that Ramsey recently inked a $72 million deal and is under contract for four more seasons. That makes him expensive, particularly for a player who will play in 2025 at 31 years old.
The Bears could also be in the mix for cornerback Jaire Alexander, whom the Green Bay Packers released earlier this week in the interest of saving $17 million. Alexander is a free agent and can play wherever he likes, though he should be cheaper as a short-term option who needs to rebuild his value following two consecutive seasons defined by 10 missed games — mostly due to injury — in each campaign.
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