The Chicago Bears have struggled to maintain continuity on the offensive line for several years. Some of this comes from bad talent evaluation, and some of it’s just bad luck. The latter reared its ugly head at the start of the year. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo tore his patella tendon against Green Bay in the playoffs. Then, after the season ended, Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman abruptly retired. Suddenly, the Bears were down two key starters, forcing the team to go hunting for replacements. Thankfully, they still had Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright to anchor the group. Then there’s Jonah Jackson.
Chicago’s right guard seems like the forgotten man of the unit. He arrived via trade from Los Angeles last year. Most people felt he was probably a lost cause. If Sean McVay gives up on you, that’s a death sentence. Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn’t buy that. He knew what kind of player Jackson was from their time in Detroit together. In the right situation, this guy was a really good football player. Last season proved him correct. In fact, Johnson told Chicagobears.com that he’s still annoyed the NFL didn’t give Jackson the recognition he deserved.
“I’ve been with him since he was a rookie and I think he’s a tremendous competitor,” Johnson said. “He brings a physical demeanor up front … He’s played at a high level. As far as I’m concerned, he played at a Pro Bowl level last year as well. [He] certainly didn’t get those accolades, but hopefully, another year fully healthy, he’ll get that recognition.”
Jonah Jackson is back to his 2021/2022 levels of play and it has been a treat to watch this year. Not many guards are as explosive and nimble as he is. Him + Wright have been awesome in the run game this year. pic.twitter.com/MmaQrkHO16
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 10, 2025
Jonah Jackson certainly has a case.
For the season, he allowed 35 pressures on the quarterback. That ranked him 25th in the NFL among guards, which isn’t too bad. It’s worth noting that 10 of those pressures came in two games. That means he allowed just 25 in the other 17 games he played. He was also tied for 12th in the NFL with a 72.3 run-blocking grade. Jackson was a central component of the Bears’ 3rd-ranked rushing attack last season. D’Andre Swift averaged 5.2 yards per carry when running behind him. Kyle Monangai averaged 4.4.
The hard truth is that competition at guard for the Pro Bowl was steep this year. It was made all the more difficult for Jonah Jackson that he shares the position with Joe Thuney, arguably the best guard in football. That can make it difficult to get noticed, at least by the wider public. Give credit to Coach Johnson. He recognized what Jackson accomplished for the team last season. He became their unsung hero. Perhaps he’ll get more respect if the offense duplicates its success again.
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Nobody wants to admit they were wrong.
Most people were ready to write Jackson off as finished after his failed tenure in Los Angeles. McVay never makes mistakes, right? So rather than admit he was wrong, people chose to bury Jackson’s resurgence beneath the success of Thuney, Dalman, and Wright. Whatever the case, the Bears knew what they had from the beginning. That is why they made sure to sign Jackson to an extension almost immediately. Presuming he did regain his old form, it would be wise to have him under an affordable contract.
Like it or not, that trade goes down as a big win for Chicago. Jackson may only have a few years left, but it’s a good reminder that sometimes players decline because they land in bad situations, not because they suddenly forgot how to play football. Scheme and culture fit are so important to the success of a player in this league. Jackson was clearly always meant to play for Johnson.
Erik Lambert
Erik Lambert
I’m a football writer with more than 15 years covering the Chicago Bears. I hold a master’s degree in the Teaching of Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and my work on Sports Mockery has earned more than twenty million views. I focus on providing analysis, context, and reporting on Bears strategy, roster decisions, and team developments, and I’ve shared insight on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and football podcasts in the U.S. and Europe.