Josh Blackwell didn’t know what he was stepping into three years ago. He was just a young cornerback whom the Philadelphia Eagles had cut as an undrafted rookie. His only concern at the time was trying to find a job. The Chicago Bears claimed him off waivers, believing he’d provided much-needed depth for their secondary. He would provide that and more, becoming one of their best special teams players. Blackwell has been on a terrific run of late, scoring a touchdown in the season finale last year and then blocking a game-winning field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders over a week ago.
The fact that he’s been able to stay productive through arguably the most turbulent period in Bears history is saying a lot. Blackwell was right in the middle of the Matt Eberflus fiasco, from the long losing streaks to the eventual fracturing of the locker room that saw the head coach get fired midseason in 2024. Whoever replaced him faced the herculean task of trying to fix an organization’s confidence and unity. Ben Johnson became the man to take up that challenge.
Blackwell had plenty to say about how the head coach has done on the NFL Spotlight podcast with Ari Meirov.
Josh Blackwell confirmed what many have felt was happening.
Johnson arrived with a purpose. He didn’t bully or harshly discipline players to send a message. He made it clear that the standards and expectations were changing inside that building. Everybody would be held accountable moving forward, including the coaches. No corners would be cut. Details matter. If you make a mistake, reset and do it again, and again, and again.
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Most importantly, don’t ever let setbacks discourage you. The NFL is a roller coaster. There are always highs and lows. You can’t control that. What you can control is how you respond to them. It sounds like Johnson had the right message after the Bears’ 0-2 start, and the team has responded beautifully.
Josh Blackwell can feel it. For the first time, maybe in his entire Bears tenure, there is a sense of belief in the locker room. That is always the crucial first step in building a winner. Now is the time to prove it against good teams. Their next test is Monday night in Washington.