Ben Johnson's latest comments on Kyler Gordon were not just about injury frustration. They were about trust. Coach Johnson isn't questioning Gordon's talent or ability, but he's certainly questioning his availability.
Since Coach Johnson took over the team, the Bears have only seen Gordon suit up for a game on three occasions, and there was far more practice than that. Nobody is questioning Gordon's talent on the field. But it does raise a red flag when the head coach directly references your lack of availability in a press conference. And that's exactly what Ben Johnson did.
Ben Johnson on the importance of Kyler Gordon being on the field regularly during the offseason, which hasn't yet happened.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 3, 2026
Johnson: "We spoke last year and neither one of us were really happy with how it went just from a perspective of being available to get to know each…
Ben Johnson is putting Kyler Gordon's biggest issue in plain sight
Gordon is a good player when he's healthy, and the Bears know what he can bring to the secondary when he's actually there. Ryan Poles sure knows, he selected him with his first ever selection as a general manager. Nobody is pushing for Gordon's success more than Poles should be. It's tied to his own record.
"We know he's a good player when he's out there but trust level is a huge thing for this team, for this coaching staff, for the locker room and you can only develop that trust by being available."Ben Johnson
Johnson's quote makes is plain and clear that he's not referring to the past. Coach Johnson has been remarkably consistent with his message that last year is last year. He directly references using OTAs as a springboard to launch Gordon's involvement with the team. It's not a great sign when instead of discussing Gordon's role in the defense, Johnson is discussing whether or not they can establish that relationship in the first place.
It's already June. Obviously we're a couple months away from the season and there's still plenty of time for Gordon to integrate. But Johnson's tone alone tells anyone who heard him that he's not happy about the situation. When the head coach is in year two of a coaching job and he hardly knows a player, it significantly impacts the coaches willingness to utilize him should he be healthy.
In Gordon's four seasons in the NFL, he's not yet recorded a full season. It's not a great look. Gordon signed a three year contract extension from his rookie deal worth $40 million. That means he won't be a free agent until 2029. Unless Gordon gets healthy quickly, it's gonna be a long few years in the secondary.
The good news for Gordon is that Johnson's comments were not an indictment of his talent. In fact, the Bears head coach went out of his way to praise what Gordon brings when he's available. The challenge now is simple. Gordon has already proven he can play. What he still needs to prove is that the Bears can count on seeing him regularly enough to build the trust Johnson says is so important.
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