LAKE FOREST, Ill., — Last offseason Chicago Bears defensive back Jaylon Johnson had a contract situation to use as extra motivation for the 2023 season and it worked as he was rewarded with a new deal to stay with the franchise. Now, going into 2024 Johnson is using something else to fuel his motivation for the upcoming season.
With the NFL’s Top 100 list officially revealed, Johnson was left off the list that his peers around the league voted on. And he didn’t take too kindly to that, using it to motivate himself for the 2024 campaign.
“100%. It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful,” Johnson said. “Yeah, no, it’s disrespectful because I go out there, line up and I know receivers go out there and can’t say that I’m not one of best players that they play against. So I mean, whatever it is, it happened. Doing it wouldn’t have moved me to where I’m complacent.”
While the Bears only had two players on the list for this past season, Montez Sweat (No. 82) and Keenan Allen (No. 51), Johnson feels like he belonged on that list. He’s probably right, too.
He had a career year last season with four interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one touchdown. Quarterbacks stayed away from the Bears’ top corner and when they did challenge him, they didn’t have much success with just a rating of 50.9 and a completion percentage of 55.2. Johnson earned Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro spot for his play.
“It’s bull****. There ain’t no way. I don’t know how you make Pro Bowl, All-Pro and not a Top 100 guy,” Johnson said. “I could’ve been 101 I guess, but damn, Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play in the season and he was voted. I mean, hey, everybody makes mistakes, it ain’t just the media that do it. Players clearly– if they voted for it– they made some damn mistakes. But it is what it is. At the end of the day I know the truth and it’s alright, I got some more for them.”
Johnson is set to be an anchor for a Bears defense that has aspirations of being the best in the NFL. He leads a secondary that is already among the best in the league and the core of that defense. With him coming off a carer year in 2023 and being rewarded for it, Johnson will look to elevate his game even more in 2024.
And if that happens, he should see his name on next year’s list.
“But just to see it– ain’t no way there are 100 guys who are better. Ain’t no way,” Johnson said. “Especially guys who didn’t play, who were hurt, played half– ain’t no f****** way. Excuse my language. Ain’t no way. Ain’t no way.”
