Chicago Bears quickly discard Jaylon Johnson controversy following Week 15 loss

Given the role that Jaylon Johnson may have potentially played in the events that led to Matt Eberflus's firing following the Chicago Bears' loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, many have looked to the Bears' cornerback as an indication of the lean of the locker room.

During his weekly interviews with 670 The Score, Johnson has rarely minced words when talking about the failures of the 2024 season including not holding back when talking about Eberflus following his firing.

While Johnson's weekly radio hits have become appointment listening, many have wondered if there would be a change to his transparency with Thomas Brown now serving as the team's interim head coach. One of the first messages that Brown had as head coach of the Bears was wanting to unify the team and keep the noise in-house. Some took Brown's desire as a subliminal message toward Johnson and that speculation was fueled on Monday night when Johnson was seen on the field without his captain's patch.

Johnson was one of eight captains for the Bears selected prior to the 2024 season. The fact Johnson wasn't wearing a captain's patch on Monday night led some to suggest that Brown was sending a message to the locker room.

In a season filled with controversy, Johnson not wearing a captain's patch on Monday night isn't the latest. Brown confirmed with reporters after the game that Johnson remains a captain on the team and continues to be a leader during the week.

It seems that it may have been an accident that the captain's patch wasn't included on Johnson's jersey, who jokingly took aim at the team's equipment staff following the game.

One thing that may help prevent this issue next season, no matter who the head coach is, would be have fewer than eight captains next season.