Jaylon Johnson is already one of the longest-serving players on the Bears’ roster, and it shows.

Having stuck with the team through some tough years, Johnson understands that the Bears often shine most during the offseason. It’s become a bit of a tradition in Chicago — they regularly generate buzz as “offseason champions.” While there’s something endearing about that, it’s also a little sad.

Bears fans wear their excitement on their sleeves, which adds to Chicago’s appeal as a football city. Still, that constant hype can get a bit overwhelming — something Johnson subtly acknowledged in a recent piece by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Patrick Finley.

Jaylon Johnson wants you to pump the breaks on all this offseason Bears hype

“Hype don’t win you no games,” Jaylon Johnson said. “I’ve been here a minute. I’ve been through the hype. And we don’t win no games. So, for me, if it’s not about winning, quite honestly, I don’t really care about it … I’ve been through it too many times, man. I’m going to get excited when we win in November. And December. And when we change some things and get into the playoffs. That’s when I’m going to get excited.”

 

Now that is a quote — the kind that comes from someone who didn’t just endure a 14-game losing streak under Matt Eberflus, but somehow came out the other side of it still standing. Will it make a difference? Probably not. Bears fans were all-in long before Johnson arrived and will still be bleeding navy and orange long after he’s gone. But he’s earned serious respect for pushing through the mess — even if his resilience ends up being more symbolic than successful. Honestly, Chicago might benefit if more Bears players followed his lead and gently reminded the fanbase to dial it down now and then.

That said… the vibes at Halas Hall right now? Kinda immaculate. And maybe, just maybe, this is the one time the offseason hype actually does matter. Other teams fool themselves into thinking offseason momentum can carry into fall. It usually can’t. But in the case of the Bears? It might just be different.

Jaylon Johnson couldn’t help but troll Matt Eberflus with latest comments

It’s safe to say that by the end of Matt Eberflus’ time in Chicago, Jaylon Johnson was over it.

Whether or not his impassioned postgame comments after the Bears’ Thanksgiving loss to the Lions influenced Eberflus’ firing the next day, the writing was on the wall — the locker room had stopped buying what the head coach was selling.

Johnson spoke with reporters at Halas Hall on Tuesday, and it’s obvious he’s embracing the post-Eberflus era. The vibe? Way lighter. And Johnson, for one, isn’t hiding the fact that he’s glad to have moved on.

Jalyon Johnson’s disdain for Matt Eberflus can’t be hidden

Under Matt Eberflus’ Tampa-2 scheme, Jaylon Johnson was typically responsible for locking down one side of the field rather than shadowing the opponent’s top receiver. And while he flourished in that role — earning recognition as one of the league’s elite corners — Johnson never hid his desire to take on the challenge of following the best wideouts across the field. Based on his comments Tuesday, it sounds like that opportunity is finally coming in Dennis Allen’s new-look defense.

Allen, known for his aggressive approach and 4-3 scheme with some Cover-2 elements, brings a very different energy than his predecessor — and it’s one Johnson seems eager to tap into.

“Would you rather win by 7 or 17? 17. You don’t want to barely win the fight; you want to whoop the guy in front of you,” Johnson said, clearly buying into Allen’s more assertive style.

And while just about every positive thing said about the Bears’ new staff can be read as a not-so-subtle dig at Eberflus — who, let’s be honest, didn’t do much to defend his reputation — Johnson is keeping his enthusiasm in check. He’s seen regime changes before. He’s seen hype before. What he hasn’t seen? Wins in November and December… and a playoff victory.

Until that happens, Johnson’s keeping it real.