Antwaan Randle El put his left arm around Ben Johnson and squeezed him close as they headed toward the tunnel at Soldier Field on Sunday after the Chicago Bears thumped the Dallas Cowboys 31-14.
When Johnson reached the northwest tunnel, with fans above cheering him on, he threw both arms in the air. The 39-year-old coach hired to bring the long-struggling franchise back to relevance had rebounded, along with his team, from the embarrassing loss just a week prior.
10 thoughts after the Bears pulled to 1-2 with a chance to climb to .500 before a bye in Week 5.
1. As fired up as Ben Johnson was in the locker room after the game — and he was downright animated after quarterback Caleb Williams presented him with a game ball — he was a lot more reserved when it was time to talk about the game.
The video reinforced what we’ve seen at Halas Hall throughout the offseason, during training camp and then this past week. The players feed off the energy from the head coach and maybe they are taking on the kind of identity that matches the vision Johnson held when he took the job.
Maybe the disappointment of the first two weeks — blowing the opener against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter and then getting their doors blown off in Detroit — made the circle inside the locker room a little more fired up. But less than 30 minutes later, when Johnson was in the press conference room answering questions, he was measured, focused and the raw emotion was removed.
Bears coach Ben Johnson celebrates the win over the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
“Listen, the first two weeks have not gone the way we wanted to,” Johnson said. “It’s early. We’ve got to get the issues fixed. I thought the guys were committed to that here this week, and we had a good week of preparation, and they came out and they played inspired football. Good things happen when you’re playing hard, you’re playing physical and you’re playing for the guy next to you. I thought that’s what happened here today.”
Veteran safety Kevin Byard didn’t want the coach — who presented game balls to Williams and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds — to be overlooked in the hoopla. He pulled Williams aside before the music was killed so the coach could address the team.
“I told him, ‘Hey, make sure you give Ben the game ball,’” Byard said. “I want the quarterback to do it. It’s meaningful to be able to give him one after his first win.”
Williams presented a ball to the coach, he drew the players into a circle and rallied them a final time, borrowing from a quote attributed to St. Jerome regarding the relentless pursuit of self-improvement.
“Repeat after me!” Johnson shouted. “Good, better, best! Never let it rest! Until your good gets better! And your better gets best! Bears on three. One, two, three!”
That matched closely with what Johnson said on Wednesday, that the Bears had been coming up short on the practice field as well as in games.
“I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team,” he said.
It wasn’t anything he hadn’t already told his players. It was quite different than the typical coach-speak where they declare each practice ranges somewhere between good and great in preparation for the next game.
“He’s transparent,” said right guard Jonah Jackson, who has experience playing under Johnson in Detroit. “It’s not like he’s telling you guys one thing and telling us another. We know that we were not practicing to our potential. Now, we gotta do it again.”
“I just think he’s real,” left tackle Braxton Jones said. “He wanted to challenge us and he’s being honest. From top down, we all want to be better. We all want to win. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that kind of honesty and him going to the media with that. We did a great job of that this week.”
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Coaches need to find different ways to connect with players, and it’s something that those who have worked with Johnson previously in Detroit and at other stops thought he’d take to the Bears. Coaches have to discover different ways, at times, to present the same message.
Taking the team’s practice effort to the public isn’t a button Johnson is going to be able to push all the time. He knows that. But in this showing, the Bears were hustling all over the field, starting with the second defensive snap when Javonte Williams went around the left side for a big 22-yard run.
Here we go again, it looked like. A week after the defense was crushed by a bonanza of big plays in Detroit, Williams gashed the front seven. Then, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson came racing up from behind to rip the ball out of Williams’ arms for a takeaway. More on Stevenson in a little bit.
Bears fans celebrate a second interception by middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds against the Cowboys in the fourth quarter on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears scored five plays later and really never relinquished momentum, even though Dallas tied the game 14-14 briefly in the second quarter.
Johnson got the attention of the locker room this past week. It’s fair to assume he will get the requisite effort again in practice this week. But he’s been around long enough to know that he’ll have to discover different methods to push his team forward as it chases excellence.
“It will be fun for tonight and we’re on to the next one,” Johnson said. “We’re behind the eight ball here.”
2. Redemption for Tyrique Stevenson isn’t something he’s going to be able to achieve in one week.
Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson strips the ball from Cowboys running back Javonte Williams in the first quarter onSept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Truly, he’s not going to be able to find it in a half-season of improved play.
But if Stevenson, in a critical third year and with the spotlight on him brighter than ever with No. 1 cornerback Jaylon Johnson sidelined indefinitely with a groin injury, can show improved and consistent play over the course of a season, he’s got a shot at it.
Stevenson was an energizer for the Bears on Sunday. He ripped the ball away from running back Javonte Williams at the end of a 22-yard line for a takeaway with the Cowboys on the edge of the red zone. The Bears cashed in the takeaway with their first touchdown of the game.
On the third play of the second quarter, Stevenson drove on wide receiver George Pickens, running a slant route on third-and-8. It was a perfectly timed pass breakup that forced the Cowboys to settle for a field goal.
Stevenson finished the game with only three tackles, but he had two pass breakups and the first of four takeaways. It was a massive turnaround from last week at Detroit when he was caught chasing wide receivers all over the field on long plays.
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“I thought Tyrique in general had a really nice bounce-back game,” coach Ben Johnson said. “He’s one of those guys, like a lot of us, we haven’t started the season the way we wanted to yet. He’s capable of being a big-time player in this league, and I thought he played that way today.”
I’m not sure where Stevenson’s stock is in the building right now but it really doesn’t matter. What will matter is where it’s at after 14 more games. I know is the team was eager to give him a chance to respond at the end of last season and two months after the meltdown on the Hail Mary at Washington.
The coaching staff had been substituting Terell Smith in at cornerback, rotating him with Stevenson. Before last season’s Week 16 game against Detroit, I’m told the coaches were directed to stop the rotation. Keep Stevenson on the field.
Last year is history, and while Stevenson carries that baggage, the only concern of the current coaching staff is how he’s responding to them. Stevenson wasn’t available in the locker room after Sunday’s game and that’s too bad. I give him credit for standing there and answering questions after games he’s struggled in. It’s not like he’s ducked responsibility in the past.
The guy had a really good ballgame a week after really struggling and that’s notable whether Stevenson is there to answer for himself or not.
“Listen, Tyrique is a big-time player,” safety Kevin Byard said. “I know he’s had his ups and downs in the past three years. But he’s a big-time talent and just myself as a leader, I am always making sure I am reminding him how talented he is.
“As long as he stays locked in with his technique and fundamentals, he can be one of the better cornerbacks in this league and I think he showed that today. He just has to play like that consistently and I think he can. His play sparked the entire team.”
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett echoed that sentiment.
“Tyrique responded,” he said. “I am so proud of him. I think his best football is ahead of him. You could see the hunger in his eyes today. He definitely set the tone for us as a whole team today. I am super proud of 29.”
There’s a long way to go for Stevenson. This was a snapshot of how he can perform when he’s locked in. We’ll see if the new coaching staff can find ways to help him replicate it.
3. The Wieners Circle has reached out to Vienna Beef, asking for a little help.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates a touchdown pass to wide receiver Luther Burden III on a trick play against the Cowboys in the first quarter on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The popular hot dog stand on North Clark Street promised free hot dogs on Tuesday if Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns — and that’s just what he did.
Williams was super efficient, completing 19 of 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown to four different players — Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, DJ Moore and Cole Kmet. It was another step forward in his 20th career start and third under coach Ben Johnson.
Williams didn’t take a sack and ran only five times. There were no pre-snap penalties either, the kind of self-inflicted mistakes that have troubled the offense. That’s a sign Williams is in better command of the offense.
“The thing that you don’t see on the stat sheet is he’s getting a lot more comfortable calling those plays in the huddle,” Johnson said. “We were able to get out of the huddle a little bit faster, and we were able to get on the line and operate a little bit cleaner as well. I was proud of him for that.”
The first touchdown pass came when Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs tried to jam Rome Odunze at the line of scrimmage with his right arm. That’s the kind of coverage the 6-foot-3, 214-pound Odunze will welcome all the time. He’s got a strong upper body and is physical enough to win handfighting. Diggs stumbled after jabbing Odunze with his right arm and the receiver was off to the races.
“I ended up dropping five-step(s) on that,” Williams said. “Eyes are down the middle for a little bit. When I peeked over after my first couple steps, I ended up seeing No. 7 slipping. And (WR) Rome threw his hand up, did a great job with that. We were on the same page. Just get him the ball and let him go score.”
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Rome Odunze in the first quarter on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Williams connected with Burden for a 65-yard touchdown on a flea-flicker for the next score. More on Johnson’s affinity for gadget plays shortly.
Williams was really confident throughout. He hit Colston Loveland for a 31-yard gain before the tight end left with a hip injury. The QB was ripping some throws into the middle of the field, which hasn’t always been the case. And he played with patience.
The former No. 1 pick should show signs of improvement in a positive matchup against a Dallas defense lacking impact players and missing top cornerback DaRon Bland. He should be very productive, and that’s what he was. If the Bears didn’t give up 52 points last week to the Lions, there would have been a greater focus on how Williams played. He was better than he showed in Week 1. He’s showing calmness and cleaner footwork in the pocket. Against Minnesota, he ran all over the place, and too often, it was for no good reason.
This was an arrow-up performance and Williams has come a good distance in only three weeks.
“I’m going to give Caleb a lot of credit,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “I saw him find rush lanes and step up and out on some things and stuff like that. When the quarterback goes to break, you got a decision to make. Do you want to come up and let him throw it behind you? That’s the game you play. He did a nice job. Give him credit.”
The four touchdowns matched the number Williams threw in a 35-16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars last October in London. It’s just the fifth time in the last decade that a Bears quarterback has thrown for four-plus scores in a game. Justin Fields had two and Mitch Trubisky had six in a 48-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 of the 2018 season. That was an atrocious Tampa defense that Trubisky shredded and this Dallas one isn’t very good either.
That’s just the truth. But you take a positive performance and you work to build off it. Specifically in this case, you highlight some of the things Williams did that made him better — regardless of opponent — like managing the huddle better, operating cleanly from a pre-snap perspective and then being poised in the pocket. From there, arm talent and other skills take over.
And now, everyone eats a hot dog for free on Tuesday.
If Caleb throws 4 TDs on Sunday, we will give away free hot dogs on Tuesday
— The Wieners Circle (@TheWienerCircle) September 19, 2025
“Congrats, everybody,” Williams said. “You got free hot dogs.”
4. Don Johnson, the father of Ben Johnson, bristled a little bit at the idea that his son has an affinity for trick plays.
Gail and Don Johnson sit outside their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains on Feb. 4, 2025 near Asheville, N.C. where they raised their three children, including Bears coach Ben Johnson. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The razzle-dazzle plays aren’t drawn up for amusement. They’re calculated plays, just like traditional calls, designed to attack the defense. Sure, they’re fun. Call them gadgets, if you must, but don’t call them tricks.
“The one that I recall best was the pass to Penei Sewell that ended the game (in Week 14 of the 2022 season),” Don Johnson said.
The Lions were leading 31-23 coming out of the two-minute warning and had third-and-7 on the Vikings’ 41-yard line. Sewell reported as eligible and lined up to the left in a 2×2 formation.
“When that play started and Sewell started coming back across the formation in motion, I said, ‘Oh god!’” Don Johnson said. “Because I knew how that one was gonna end.”
Sewell caught Jared Goff’s pass after a play fake, gained 9 yards and the Lions tacked on a field goal to win.
“We got together after the game and Ben’s beaming,” Don Johnson said. “He said, ‘Dad, what did you think about that pass play to Sewell?’ I said, ‘Ben, about the time he got over to the far tackle, I realized what you were doing and I about (pooped) my pants.’”
Then, Don Johnson shared a tale from his high school coaching days in North Carolina when he was leading Scotland High School against a loaded team from Seventy-First led by Bobby Poss, who wound up coaching Ben Johnson at A.C. Reynolds in Asheville, N.C. Scotland couldn’t get a lot going but scored on a fullback pass and then used a long flanker reverse pass for another touchdown before falling just short.
“They interviewed me after the game and asked about the trick plays,” Don Johnson said. “I said, ‘Those are not trick plays, boys.’ If you’ve got a corner that is jumping our fullback running out to the flat with the ball in his hand, who is covering his man? It doesn’t take much to figure out. Let’s throw it.
“Here’s what Ben does, he looks for ways that the defense is messing up. What do you need to do to take advantage of not playing this in sound fashion? Sometimes, it looks like a trick play. But it’s not. He knows what the defense is going to do and he says, ‘Here’s how we’re going to attack this.’ It’s an unconventional way to do it but it works. Ben believes in that completely.”
On Sunday, the Bears caught the Cowboys biting on the run after Caleb Williams handed the ball off to D’Andre Swift. What happened next was nearly a disaster. When Swift turned to pitch the ball back to the quarterback, he nearly sent it sailing over his head.
“That was high as s−−−,” said Swift, who said a Cowboys lineman contacted him.
Once Williams had the ball, it was all up to Luther Burden III selling run, which he did with a less-than-aggressive release off the line of scrimmage.
“Coach told us all week: three count,” Burden said. “So I was counting in my head: one, two, three — then go!”
When Burden hit the jets, he was already behind cornerback Kaiir Elam and he easily blew by C.J. Goodwin, who tried closing from the middle of the field.
Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III catches a pass on trick play in the first quarter during a game against the Cowboys at Soldier Field on Sept. 21, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The play that Johnson dubbed “White House” was as electric for the Soldier Field crowd as the “Stumble Bum” touchdown pass from Goff to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was last season against the Bears, another creative beauty from Ben Johnson after seeing how the Bears defensive backs reacted on film.
“We have gadgets up every week,” Ben Johnson said. “I give the staff a lot of credit. They’re going through, watching the tape and finding out things that may or may not fit, whether it’s Dallas this year, or some of the stuff we’re watching of Chicago’s defense from yesteryear. So that was really a staff find. And we worked it all week and felt comfortable calling it this week.”
Williams said he underthrew Burden in practice when they worked on the play, but when it mattered in the game, he was on the money for the score, the first touchdown for the second-round rookie.
Ben Johnson chuckled when told about his father’s recollection of gadget plays from the high school gridiron, but they really are on the same wavelength when it comes to unconventional — and in this case — backyard football plays.
“I think it boils down to there are things we’re seeing on tape that we feel like we can attack their scheme defensively,” he said. “But it’s also looking to highlight what our guys do best as well. You see a guy like (right tackle) Darnell (Wright) make that catch in the springtime (in OTAs) and it gets your wheels turning a little bit. It’s unique. It’s things the defense maybe wouldn’t expect. Everyone wants to call them trick plays or gadgets. They’re just another part of the arsenal that if we can time up the call at the right time, we’ve had some success with them in the past.”
Bears coach Ben Johnson watches the fourth quarter against the Cowboys on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
They don’t always work. Early in the fourth quarter of the divisional round meeting with the Washington Commanders in January, the Lions were trailing 38-28 when Ben Johnson called for wide receiver Jameson Williams to attempt a pass. Williams’ throw to Jahmyr Gibbs was intercepted. The Commanders tacked on a touchdown on the ensuing possession and the game was over.
Ben Johnson regrets that one, right?
“No,” he said. “Not at all. Why would I?”
Well, it failed badly on a huge stage.
“That’s the thing,” he said. “I am going to call a bunch (of plays) that don’t work. It doesn’t mean I regret them. It means I probably should have coached them a little bit better. That’s how I look at it. I look in the mirror first. I didn’t do a good enough job coaching that particular play up to get that result.
“At the end of the day, if we’re calling something or it’s on the game plan, it’s because the coaching staff trusts the players and the players trust the coaching staff. We’re all in it together.”
5. The Bears put the game away in the third quarter when they absolutely leaned on the Cowboys during a 19-play, 76-yard drive that took 9 minutes, 54 seconds off the clock.
Bears wide receiver DJ Moore celebrates his touchdown against the Cowboys in the third quarter on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
It culminated when Caleb Williams found DJ Moore uncovered in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line. More notable than Ben Johnson’s penchant for going for it on fourth down was the methodical approach during the drive that included, at one point, 11 consecutive runs and four conversions on third down.
Pro Football Reference has drive statistics dating back to 2001, and that was the most plays the Bears have had on a touchdown drive in that span. The Bears had a 19-play drive at Baltimore during Week 15 of the 2009 season, but it ended when Jay Cutler’s fourth-down pass for tight end Greg Olsen was broken up by Terrell Suggs.
Previously, the Bears’ longest touchdown drive was a 17-play march for a touchdown in a 38-10 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 1, 2017.
“It was like I blacked out,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “We were on play eight and I was like, what is going on right here? I’m running (blocking) this way, I’m running (blocking) that way. Holy (smokes). It was good.”
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams carries the ball in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 21, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears prepared for this early in training camp with long play drives where the offense would start deep in its own end.
“We would go 12 to 15 plays,” Kmet said. “That one was 19. Those are the type of things that you need to have stamina for in season. Little hot. Little muggy out there. So, kind of wore them down at the end and kind of took the ball for the whole third quarter. That was really good for us and something that we should be able to carry going forward.”
It’s a treat for offensive linemen when the coach dials up a run play after run plays too.
“Everybody has to deal with the 19, even us,” right guard Jonah Jackson said. “But we’re built for that.”
Moore’s touchdown put the Bears ahead 31-14 and the victory will have effects at Halas Hall this week. It’s always easier to go through tape corrections coming off a win.
Publicly, a lopsided victory after being crushed in Detroit and having a meltdown against the Vikings has to be a deodorizer.
“Publicly, yes,” Kmet said. “I think for us, we’ll look at the tape and see there was still a lot of stuff we need to fix and grow on if we want to beat the better teams in the league and be one of those teams, especially in our division. It was a good step for us. Credit to Coach. There was a lot of stuff that was schemed open really well and Caleb did a good job of getting the football to those guys and all those things.
“But yeah, we’re going to have to take this run game and bring it on the road. For sure, first step.”
6. Veteran coaches will tell you that philosophies for defense have shifted in recent years.
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen celebrates the team’s third interception with players in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
It used to be that stopping the run was the No. 1 objective for defensive coaches. Take the run away, make the opponent one-dimensional and then hunt the quarterback.
Stopping the run remains essential to playing high-level defenses. But the name of the game now for defensive coaches is eliminating explosive plays — run or pass — and forcing the opponent to make long, methodical drives without making a mistake. Do it the right way and eventually you’ll force the offense into a mistake or get a stop on third down.
The Bears were gashed by explosive plays in Detroit, but defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, without his top two cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, got that cleaned up this week.
Cowboys running back Javonte Williams ripped off a 22-yard run on the second play from scrimmage when Tyrique Stevenson forced the fumble. Dak Prescott had 37- and 28-yard passes to KaVontae Turpin and a 21-yard throw to George Pickens. The long shot to Turpin was after Dallas trailed by 17 and backup quarterback Joe Milton had a 24-yard pass in garbage time. Other than that, there was a 16-yard pass to Pickens — and that was it for Dallas’ explosives.
To be sure, the Bears caught a huge break when the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He’s a top-three receiver in the league. But the defense executed Allen’s plan: keep everything in front of you and swarm to the ball.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds earned a game ball with 15 tackles and two interceptions. Linebacker Noah Sewell had 11 tackles. The defense forced Prescott to go underneath and that was from the start of the game, not just when the Bears were defending a comfortable lead.
Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert watches as Bears middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds intercepts a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on Sept. 21, 2025.
(Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Tight end Jake Ferguson caught 13 passes but for only 82 yards. Running backs Williams and Miles Sanders combined for nine receptions. That’s 22 of Prescott’s 34 completions and most were after Prescott turned down his first two reads.
“Obviously, there were a lot of check downs and we were able to limit the explosive plays,” said safety Kevin Byard, who had an interception. “That was huge. As a defense, we don’t feel like anybody can just drive on us down the field. That’s what we made them try to do.”
The Bears had 14 snaps of Cover-2 and 12 snaps of Cover-2 Man, so they were in two-high coverage for 69% of the dropback plays, the third-highest percentage in the NFL on Sunday. Maybe that’s what Allen is going to have to trend to at least while he’s dealing with a slew of injuries in the secondary.
The defensive coordinator still mixed in some Cover-1 and had three Cover-0 all-out blitzes. The Bears can’t win a game by giving up big plays all over the place like they did in Detroit.
“You obviously saw we were in a lot of shell (coverage),” Byard said. “But you’ve seen it across the league. There’s a lot of shell defense. You have to be able to stop the run out of a shell defense. There are still a lot of things we can shore up there. But I think when you want to be able to limit the explosive receivers, that’s all around the league. You have to be able to play two-shell defense. They check the ball down and we swarm to the football.”
Williams had 76 yards on 10 carries for the Cowboys, so there is work to do with the Bears run defense. It’s a mystery why the Cowboys called consecutive passes beginning on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. But, hey, the Bears will take it.
“They were getting a lot of depth that allowed for underneath throws, which we got,” Prescott said. “We’ve just got to be able to stay on the field, not putting ourselves in some of those third-and-7 plus. Obviously, that plays to their benefit, but when you lose a guy like CeeDee, for one, they can play as soft as they want, just keeping everything in front of them. It’s always going to be tough.”
7. As far as conspiracy theories go, the idea that Jaylon Johnson’s contract had something to do with him opening training camp on the non-football injury list wasn’t totally out of left field.
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is helped off the field after a play in the second quarter against the Lions at Ford Field on Sept. 14, 2025, in Detroit. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
To be perfectly clear, Johnson’s contract, which he signed in March 2024, had nothing to do with his absence from groin and calf injuries.
“You know me better than that,” Johnson said earlier this month after returning to the practice field. “I never held out. I haven’t ever done any of that. For the media, it’s a good play as far as the contract and the timing and things, but I’m not that type of cat.”
For the media, it’s worth wondering if Johnson’s contract status will play a small role in the possibility of him returning from injured reserve late in the season, especially if surgery is ultimately required.
If Johnson is eyeing the opportunity to get back to the bargaining table with the Bears sooner rather than later, does he prioritize a return to game action as quickly as possible and risk sub-par play or an aggravation of the groin injury by playing late in the season? The Bears placed him on injured reserve Saturday and he’s out indefinitely while he seeks opinions on the injury. Johnson indicated in an appearance last week on WSCR-670 AM that he could face season-ending surgery. Team sources have not ruled out the chance that he will be back in the fold before year’s end.
There’s no doubt the competitor in Johnson wants to be on the field again as soon as possible. But there are myriad factors that will go into a decision if it’s even a possibility. What do the Bears have to play for in the stretch run? Are they somehow in the hunt for a wild-card spot or are they playing out the string? Would it make sense to push it to return if the team is sitting at 6-8?
At the time Johnson signed a $76 million, four-year extension, he was the seventh-highest-paid cornerback in the NFL with an annual average salary of $19 million.
Johnson’s payday came before a healthy list of elite cornerbacks got paid and the market has been completely reset since. The New York Jets’ Ahmad Gardner and Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. both topped the $30 million threshold in terms of annual average pay. Carolina’s Jaycee Horn is next at $25 million and Denver’s Patrick Surtain II and Dallas’ DaRon Bland are both north of $22 million. Now, Johnson ranks 15th in terms of annual average salary.
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It’s hard to imagine Johnson can make a case for a reworked contract after this season if he misses the remainder of the year. But you better believe he can play for a new deal in 2026.
Here’s what remains on his contract after this season, with his salary-cap figure bumped up by a simple restructure at the start of this month, which created $8 million in cap space for the club.
2026: $15.05 million base salary, $850,000 in per-game roster bonuses ($50,000 per game), $25 million cap figure
2027: $13.05 million base salary, $2 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the league year, $850,000in per-game roster bonuses
(Note: None of the guaranteed money in the contract remains, but $7.6 million of his 2026 base salary will be locked in if he’s on the roster on the third day of the 2026 league year.)
Beyond the tape of his performance the last couple of seasons, another thing Johnson has going for himself is his age. He’s 26, so he’s easily young enough to get another big bite at the apple in terms of a third contract.
A healthy Johnson playing at a Pro Bowl level will be a bargain for the Bears next season. If he can regain top form, he will be well-positioned to request a payday before the final year of the contract in 2027. It’s something he might have been able to do after this season had he stayed healthy and remained an elite performer.
8. The first time Dallis Flowers’ phone rang mid-morning on Aug. 26, the call was from an unknown number. So he let it go.
49ers cornerback Dallis Flowers lines up against the Chargers during the first half of a preseason game on Aug. 23, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
When his phone rang again, and again it was an unknown number, Flowers answered.
“Hey, you need to bring your iPad and come on in to the facility.”
The San Francisco 49ers summoned the cornerback from Oak Park-River Forest to release him as they constructed their 53-man roster on cutdown day. That’s the kind of news that is jarring for any player, but Flowers was convinced he had made the team.
An undrafted free agent out of Pittsburg State in 2022, he knew the drill. Players who don’t have draft status or a substantial contract are always living on the edge of the roster. But Flowers, who spent his first 2 1/2 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, had spent the majority of training camp running with the starters.
Renardo Green had suffered a hamstring injury early in camp and Deommodore Lenoir was dealing with a hip injury. The two injuries created a lot of reps for Flowers in practice. He did well, or so he thought. In the preseason, he started all three games and played the first half. The feedback he got was positive.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is tackled by Colts cornerback Dallis Flowers during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sept. 22, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
In the days leading up to roster cuts, based on everything he’d heard from coaches, Flowers figured he was in a good position as a fourth cornerback, maybe even a third option for San Francisco.
“Went to the office and talked to (coach Kyle) Shanahan and (general manager John) Lynch,” Flowers said. “It was, ‘You’re a good player. We liked you on film. If one corner was down, we’d put you out there. You were pretty much CB3.’ But they were like, ‘You don’t have enough special teams value as a gunner.’”
Flowers, who led the NFL in kickoff returns as a rookie with the Colts in 2022 (31.1 yards per return), was in suspended disbelief. He made six tackles on special teams for Indianapolis in his first season and believes as a 6-foot-1, 196-pound defensive player he’s got more than enough tools to be successful in any role on special teams. He didn’t get a chance to shine on special teams in the preseason games because of the defensive reps he was receiving.
“I was stunned,” Flowers said. “Swear to god.”
He’s not the first player to not see The Turk coming, that’s for sure. And he won’t be the last.
The Bears bet on Flowers to be able to help on special teams when they elevated him from the practice squad to play on Sunday. Flowers played on special teams and had a tackle.
Flowers got interest pretty quickly after he went through waivers. The Bears reached out. The New York Jets were in play, but he liked the idea of playing for his hometown team. It turned out to be a smart choice as injuries to three cornerbacks — Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Jones — created a critical need on special teams. Players who would otherwise be core members of special teams get bumped up a peg or two on defense, and that creates openings. Jones is primarily a special teams player too.
The Bears were comfortable with Flowers and figured he might be able to provide some value on defense after he learns the system. He made five tackles for Indianapolis in the Bears’ 21-16 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 3 last season. His preseason tape was decent.
Now, Flowers hopes to settle in with his new team. He knows he’s on the edge of the roster here as well. If he can contribute, maybe he’ll make the Niners regret the decision, one Flowers never saw coming.
“I wasn’t their guy,” he said. “It hurt.”
9. Grady Jarrett didn’t want to get into specifics of exactly what he said when he stood up in front of the defense in a meeting Saturday night at the team hotel.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett speaks on July 22, 2025, as the Bears report to training camp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
But suffice to say, it was a stirring speech before what was a turnaround performance against an offense that had scored 40 points the previous week.
“We just had a talk amongst brothers,” Jarrett said. “We’re going to keep it in the room. But it was good. We had us a good time today, go out there and partied and had a good defensive showing so I am excited about that.
“It was a good time for us to talk together. I think we’ve got some more defensive ball to continue to get better at. It was execution and we learned a lot from our first two games. If we control our controllables, we can put on a show like that today. That was the biggest thing.”
Daniel Hardy, who got snaps as a strong-side linebacker and in some fronts with five down linemen, said Jarrett’s speech resonated with the room.
“It was great seeing one of your captains trying to get the troops ready to go,” Hardy said. “It’s like seeing your leader grab the flag and charge into (the fight). Grady is an animated dude. He’s an intense guy. He’s got a lot of passion for the game. It’s Year 11 for him and he’s got more fire, more passion than ever. That’s why we voted him for captain. He did his job.”
Jarrett has worn a brace on his right knee for the last two weeks. He was a game-time decision at Detroit and then had a more regular week of practice. He’s pushing through and not at full strength.
“Love for my brothers,” Jarrett said. “I don’t want to miss time with them on the field. The work that we put in together is what is keeping me going, and in due time, I will be back 100. Love for my brothers is what is keeping me going right now.”
That’s one of the reasons they were attentive when he was speaking.
10. Cairo Santos bounced back with a big game to neutralize the most dangerous return man in the NFL: KaVontae Turpin.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos and Ryan Bates celebrate after Santos kicked a field goal in the first half against the Cowboys on Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The Bears put together a varied plan to challenge Turpin‚ and Santos delivered. He kicked what’s known as a “dirty ball” on the first kickoff and got the perfect result. A dirty ball is one that hits the ground in the landing zone — between the goalline and the 20-yard line — in front of the receivers. The goal is to have the ball bounce into the end zone where, if the receiving team doesn’t bring it out, it’s a touchback to the 20-yard line.
It’s exactly the result the Bears sought and Turpin was clearly frustrated.
“Those kicks are risky, but it’s fun,” Santos said. “It worked out for us.”
There is considerable risk. If the ball lands in front of the 20, it’s a touchback to the 40. If it hits in the landing zone but then goes out of bounds before it reaches the goalline, it’s a touchback to the 40.
Then, Santos pinned Turpin in the corner for a return like he tried last week when the ball went out of bounds at Detroit. He also managed to kick away from Turpin to running back Miles Sanders. In all, the Cowboys had four kickoff returns for 93 yards (23.3 average).
Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin gains yards after a catch in the second half against the Bears on Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
It’s also not as simple as saying, “Geez, Santos should just kick away from Turpin.”
“Turpin is a dangerous man and you are going to see a lot of teams try to kick away from him or make his life difficult,” Santos said. “We executed a really good plan with that. All the teams that play against them, you basically will see where he lines up. Then, he tries to read our approach and we still try to kick the ball away or on the ground. I am excited how that worked out because we feel like we eliminated him from making a big impact on special teams.”
Caleb Williams even made note of the special teams effort after the game.
“I think on all three phases it builds confidence for us,” he said.
10a. The Bears entered with a plan to monitor left tackle Braxton Jones closely and use Theo Benedet to relieve him for a few series.
Offensive line coach Dan Roushar didn’t spell out the plan when he spoke on Thursday as much as he confirmed what a source said. As it turned out, Jones held up and Benedet was needed at right tackle when Darnell Wright missed some time with a right elbow injury that Ben Johnson says should not be serious. Jones played all 67 snaps.
“It happened to be what it was,” he said. “I was feeling pretty good for most of the game.”
The coaches noticed that Jones’ play regressed as he got deeper into action in the first two weeks.
“Early it was functional and done well enough that we can have success,” Roushar said. “I thought at the end of both games, there was a diminish in his play. It’s something we’re thinking about and trying to keep him as fresh as we can to play like he starts the game and finish that way.
“The fact that he’s overcome this significant injury. We don’t get all of camp with him and then it’s just re-training the body and the mind to function at a high level at the most important times. I would say he would probably honestly tell you that fatigue has set in as it goes on. That’s mental and physical. We have to monitor that and pay attention to that and he and I have talked about it.
“The guy is battling his ass off. He’s trying. Fundamentally, he’s gotten in bad spots and that’s when breakdowns happen as the game goes on.”
10b. Rome Odunze is the fourth Bears wide receiver to have four touchdowns through the first three games of the season and the first since Brandon Marshall accomplished the feat in 2014. Dennis McKinnon in 1985 and Dick Gordon in 1970 are also on the list.
10c. Statistically speaking … not only did the Cowboys not register a sack, they were credited with only one hit on Caleb Williams. … The Bears are converting 46.2% of third downs (18 for 39) through three games. … Opponents are averaging 5.5 yards per rush. … Williams has a 107.6 passer rating.
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10d. Much was made about Fox analyst Tom Brady having access to Bears coaches and players in preparation for Sunday’s game. Way too much was made of it, even with the Bears facing the Raiders this coming week. Brady bought a minority stake in the Las Vegas franchise and chats with their coaches regularly.
No one flipped the script, though. Wasn’t it an opportunity for Ben Johnson to quiz Brady about the Raiders and get insight into them?
10e. The CBS crew of Spero Dedes, former Bears safety Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala will call Sunday’s Bears-Raiders game from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
10f. The Raiders opened as a 2-point favorite over the Bears at Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas for Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/22/chicago-bears-brad-biggs-10-thoughts-week-3-cowboys/
