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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears reacts from the sideline during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Even if Ben Johnson is the head coach of the Chicago Bears, he still has his former players’ backs. Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers sat down with offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who’s a free agent after spending the past 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions, and revealed some telling information regarding Decker’s “awkward split” with the team that drafted him in 2016.
“It’s been radio silence,” Decker told Rogers. “It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward. It feels like a high school breakup, where you can’t even make eye contact when passing each other in the hall.”
Rogers later wrote, “After giving everything he had to the franchise for a decade, Decker expected more. He wanted to hear from his coach, from the general manager.”
Not a good look for the Lions, but luckily for Decker, Johnson still has his back.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Has Taylor Decker’s Back Amid ‘Awkward Split’ With Lions
GettyTaylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions reacts as he takes the field.
Despite not hearing from Dan Campbell or Brad Holmes, Johnson, who spent years on the Lions’ offensive staff, “reached out” to Decker to connect and check up on him, according to Rogers.
Hearing from Johnson, on the other hand, was a “stark contrast” to the silence coming from Detroit. The Bears got the right guy at head coach, in more ways than one. That’s a classy move from Johnson, and Decker must have appreciated his sentiment.
Regardless of what NFL team it is, it sucks to see a player get treated the way Decker has, especially after spending a decade with them.
Bears HC Ben Johnson “reached out” to former Lions LT Taylor Decker just to connect, per @Justin_Rogers
Decker has not heard from Lions HC Dan Campbell or GM Brad Holmes since the split so hearing from Ben Johnson was a “stark contrast” to the silence coming from Detroit.
Is Decker A Short-Term Option at Left Tackle for the Bears?
It would make a lot of sense to bring Decker in as a one-year rental while Ozzy Trapilo recovers from injury. However, it would have made sense before Chicago gave out one-year deals to Jedrick Wills, Braxton Jones, and Theo Benedet. The Bears also are dead last in the NFL in available cap space with just around $243,000, according to OvertheCap.com.
Again, Johnson was merely reaching out to Decker just to connect and check up on him, not to see if he’s interested in coming to Chicago.
But there is something to monitor: The Bears have been keeping a close eye on this year’s left tackle draft class.
Ryan Poles was the only NFL general manager who attended Alabama’s Pro Day and kept a close eye on OT prospect Kaydn Proctor, and the Bears are hosting Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor on a top 30 visit.
Could Chicago surprise everyone and draft a left tackle in the first round? It’s hard to believe they would make a move like that, but crazier things have happened in the NFL.
If anything, the Bears could look to draft a developmental LT in the later rounds, but considering Chicago used a second-round pick on Trapilo last year, it’s hard to see them investing another high-round pick on a LT.
The Bears had one of the top offensive lines in the NFL last season. They should be fine with one of Wills, Jones, or Benedet locking down the left tackle spot.
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