Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a few words for teammate Jaylon Johnson after the latter appeared in a new video, staking his claim as a “lockdown” cornerback.
The term is as clear as it gets, and Johnson’s place among the upper-echelon at his position has been a topic of discussion for years. The 26-year-old defender left no doubts about where he believes he is.
Bears’ Caleb Williams Sends Message to ‘Lockdown’ Jaylon Johnson
Bears CB Jaylon Johnson Makes Bold Claim
The video, originally shared on TikTok by .fl0ckbears on June 29, features Johnson playing a spelling-bee style game, with someone asking him to spell the word “lockdown.” Johnson goes through the typical tactics, asking for the definition of the word and for it to be used in a sentence.
After the individual off-screen obliged, the Bears’ corner proceeded to spell the word, using his name instead: “J-A-Y-L-O-N J-O-H-N-S-O-N.”
“I ain’t gonna lie this tuff,” Williams posted to his Instagram story on July 1.
He allowed a career-worst 66.1% completion last season as the Bears’ defense as a whole suffered, per Pro Football Reference. It was the first season of his career in which he allowed even 60% completion.
Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFC in June.
How well the two-time Pro Bowler and 2023 Second Team All-Pro, Johnson, and the Bears bounce back in 2025 is something to watch for.
Jaylon Johnson’s NFL Journey
Johnson is one of the longest-tenured players on the Bears’ roster, and his individual journey with the team is emblematic of the team at large. The Bears selected Johnson with the No. 50 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Among other ailments since then, he battled shoulder injuries early on in his career. Still, he played and started every game of the regular season for the first time in his career last year.
His trade request in 2023 also led to a four-year $76 million contract extension in 2024.
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson is the third of the corner’s tenure. Including former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who took over playcalling in 2023, Johnson is on his sixth defensive coordinator with Dennis Allen.
The Bears ranked 16th in passing defense last season, though they also faced the third-fewest attempts. They were also 28th against the run and had an anemic pass rush.
If the Bears have adequately addressed the latter two issues, Johnson’s job will be much easier.