Bears front office and Ben Johnson are doubling-down on their commitment to Jonah Jackson based on latest contract details
The Chicago Bears had one main goal this offseason, correcting all of the mistakes from 2024. Which starts with keeping franchise quarterback Caleb Williams up-right in the pocket.Last season, the first overall pick was the most sacked quarterback in the entire league, playing behind an offensive front filled with half-measure solutions.With each passing week, the […]
The Chicago Bears had one main goal this offseason, correcting all of the mistakes from 2024. Which starts with keeping franchise quarterback Caleb Williams up-right in the pocket.
Last season, the first overall pick was the most sacked quarterback in the entire league, playing behind an offensive front filled with half-measure solutions.
With each passing week, the realizations that those prior "solutions" were not sufficient started to seep in and became more and more apparent as time went on.
After hiring Ben Johnson, the team's head coach quickly made note that the unit did not do enough as a collective and changes were going to be made with the personnel protecting the young quarterback and powering the rushing attack.
The first addition made to the room was the acquisition of offensive guard Jonah Jackson, in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. On February 26th, the Rams gave Jackson permission to seek a trade, one disappointing season into a three-year, $51 million deal. When news broke, the Bears were quick to get on the phone.
"The guy is made of the right stuff," Bears general manager Ryan Poles said about Jackson on Wednesday. "He’s capable of really helping us up front anchoring [pass protection], but also getting push in the run game."
By trading for Jackson, the Bears were comfortable taking on the remainder of Jackson's massive deal he signed with Los Angeles last spring in free agency. It was a steep price for a player coming off a career-low season.
Jackson missed most of his first and only training camp with the Rams after suffering a shoulder injury, an injury that was reaggravated weeks later in Week 2 of the regular season and forced Jackson to land on the injured reserve. Once activated, Jackson was brought back into the lineup for one game but was benched the following week.
Jackson did not see the field again until the season finale in Week 18 when the Rams opted to bench the majority of the starters to rest for the playoffs.
"Last year was a little hiccup along the road," Jackson said on Wednesday at Halas Hall. "But things like that happen. I feel like it definitely sharpened me a little bit."
The Bears aren't just banking on that 2024 outcome being just a hiccup, they're doubling-down on Jackson returning to his former self.
According to NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, the Bears added a one-year extension to Jackson's contract, locking him in through 2027. Under the new terms, Jackson will receive all $17.5 million he was due in 2025 plus getting $7 million fully guaranteed in 2026.
That's quite the investment, but there's clear reason to see why Jackson can bounce back and be the player he once was. But, first, what kind of player was that again?
Prior to joining the Rams, Jackson played the first four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, including two seasons with Johnson as his offensive coordinator. In his second season with the Lions, Jackson was named to the Pro Bowl before injuries forced him to miss time from 2022-2023.
Teaming back up with Johnson, Jackson is excited about starting in a familiar scheme, even if it means moving to a position he has had much experience in at right guard.
"I would say I feel like my best years were with Ben. He calls the game to our strengths and things we’re good at. It’s not just for one guy specifically, and I felt like I was able to strive in that system," Jackson added. "I’m excited to get back into it and get back into what I was able to do and keep it rolling."
By showing their commitment, the Bears and Ben Johnson clearly have a lot of faith in what Jackson can do for his offense over the next few seasons to come.
“The guy’s a Pro Bowl-caliber guard,” Johnson said. “So that’s what we’re going to get out of him.”
