The Chicago Bears have ushered in a new era by replacing former head coach Matt Eberflus with Ben Johnson, previously the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. The organization is optimistic that Johnson can help unlock the full potential of young quarterback Caleb Williams, much like he did for Jared Goff in Detroit. In his efforts, Johnson is prioritizing the establishment of a strong offensive line to protect Williams and support his growth. However, aware of the importance of defense, Johnson and the Bears are also focusing on retaining key players on that side of the ball.
“Sources: The #Bears have paid another key piece of their defense. This time, they lock up LB TJ Edwards on a 2-year, $20M extension with $16.6M fully guaranteed,” reported NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Fans shared their thoughts on social media about this move. “Undrafted. Undaunted. Pure ball player. Great dude. Fun to watch these former Badgers do their thing at the highest level,” one fan expressed on Twitter. Conversely, another fan commented, “TJ has been a good value on his deal, but he doesn’t scream ‘extend early’ guy to me. I don’t see a ton of upside play on an early extension for him at $10M AAV.” Meanwhile, someone else remarked, “Oof. I hope I’m wrong, but I think this is an atrocious move. Edwards looked washed last year. I’m assuming from that guarantee that he’s fully guaranteed through the 2026 season now. Real Danny Trevathan extension potential here.” It’ll be intriguing to see how this extension plays out for Chicago.
