Windy City Gridiron
Each day in the month of June, we’ll roll out a fresh topic to get Chicago Bears fans thinking. Be sure to chime in with your answer in the comments so we can all get to know our WCG members a bit better.
Let’s be honest — the Chicago Bears have some hype right now. Caleb Williams is on the Madden cover. Ben Johnson is being discussed as one of the best young coaches in the league. Their new safety tandem of Thieneman and Bryant is viewed as near the top of the NFL. Even the mild-mannered Joe Thuney is winning inaugural OL awards.
The Bears have legitimate buzz for the first time in over a decade.
That doesn’t mean everyone is earning the spotlight as much as they should.
Perhaps it is the nature of being a Guard. Perhaps he likes guys like Thuney or Wright or even newly drafted Logan Jones earning the spotlight; but Jonah Jackson is severely underrated.
When the Bears traded for Jackson a year ago, they sent a 6th round pick in return. Given Poles’ history of sending late round picks for offensive linemen (Dan Feeney, Ryan Bates) many were skeptical that Jonah Jackson was worth the price. This also factored in his recent injury history and benching in Los Angeles and Detroit.
Couple that with all of the other more heralded additions in Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Ozzy Trapilo during the 2025 offseason, and Jackson seemed to get lost in the mix.
Still, Jackson responded remarkably once he got plugged back into Ben Johnson’s offense — the one where Jackson earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021 while Johnson was the Passing Game Coordinator. Jackson was rated by PFF as the 19th best Guard (of 81 qualifying) while playing the 3rd most snaps of any Guard during the 2025 season.
His steadiness extended beyond just the field as he assumed the role as the vocal leader of the OL unit filled with quieter guys. Clearly, Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles saw Jonah as an important glue guy and steady presence on a roster that had a lot of new parts.
With players like Matt Pryor, Ryan Bates, and Nate Davis all occupying the spot next to Darnell Wright during his early years, the steady presence of Jonah Jackson seemed to bring out the best in Wright, who was rewarded handsomely with a 2nd Team All-Pro selection in 2025. The same could be said of the Bears’ former Center, Drew Dalman, who had his best season playing next to Jackson, earning a Pro Bowl selection.
Understanding the type of character Jackson has, and his propensity for the running game, he probably relishes the accolades his teammates are earning. But make no mistake about it — Jackson is a vital cog to the Bears’ success and the most underrated player on the team.
