LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson entered the PNC Center at Halas Hall on Tuesday morning and shared a smirk to the assembled media.
“Surprised to see me or something?” Johnson asked.
For a five-year NFL veteran and two-time Pro Bowler like Johnson, attending the voluntary portion of the offseason program is notable. Johnson had skipped portions of the team’s offseason program in years past, but he was present as new head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears began work Monday.
"Show my respect,” Johnson said of choosing to attend. “It's big for me to come in and shake guys' hands, see them in person, come in, be with the guys and show the guys that I'm here, show face.”
The 25-year-old Johnson is coming off another strong season in which he hauled in two interceptions and earned Pro Bowl recognition for a second straight year. Johnson is eager to see how his role will evolve under the direction of new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who’s poised to use more man coverage in his scheme than Chicago has used in recent years.
Johnson anticipates shadowing top wide receivers across the field often, a tactic that former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus rarely utilized.
“You lock up the No. 1 guy – No. 1 on No. 1,” Johnson said. “For me, that's what I am looking forward to doing. That's what I am looking forward to the most. That's what I train for. That's what I work hard for. So, I mean, for me, it's going to be about that. Being ready to go out there and lock up, challenge guys, make things harder for the offense, mess up timing and then, (shoot), the dogs up front, they have to eat. Everybody (does) what they do best. Dogs eat. And then guys on the back end cover.”
Johnson’s five-year tenure with the Bears has been marked by a lack of team success. The Bears went 8-8 and made the playoffs in his rookie season, but they’ve gone a combined 21-47 in the four years since. Johnson is now playing for his third head coach as he has entered his sixth season.
As hype around the Bears grew in the offseason and in training camp ahead of the 2024 season, Johnson downplayed it by emphasizing the need to focus on the work and producing on the field. His cautious tone proved to be prescient, as the Bears went 5-12 in a disappointing campaign.
Once again, Johnson isn’t getting too eager just yet as work for the 2025 season has begun.
“I'll see in camp to start,” Johnson said. “That's when the real ball will show up. And then really through our season, we'll see. Because things may start off rocky in the beginning and we'll figure it out and things change throughout the back half or the middle of the season. Or we start off hot and then (crap) the bed. So, I mean it kind of depends. At the end of the day, to me, it's about winning. And I feel like I we go out there and we win on Sundays, and I'll feel good about everybody.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.