The Chicago Bears pieced together their final roster this past week in advance of the 2026 regular season. There weren’t too many huge surprises. Perhaps the biggest was their decision to cut training camp and preseason hero Kaden Davis, though he did end up back on the practice squad. Jack Sanborn and James Lynch were also cut but brought back after some Injured Reserve moves were conducted. Outside of that, nothing really stood out from their minor tweaks. However, one may have flown under the radar.
Most of their additions to the practice squad were familiar faces—Guys who played with the team in camp and the preseason. There were a couple of new additions, though. One of them was linebacker Buddy Johnson. Don’t feel bad if you’re unfamiliar with the name. The former 4th round pick has only played 17 games on defense in his career between Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Indianapolis. That said, he does bring a reputation with him. Johnson has quietly been one of the better special teams players at his position.
The Chicago Bears found Johnson at the perfect time.
One thing you can say about general manager Ryan Poles is that he has a certain knack for digging up special teams help in unlikely places every year. Johnson might be the latest. Over the past two seasons, the linebacker has recorded 14 special-teams tackles. It is a major breakthrough after being mostly invisible through the first couple of seasons. This isn’t one of those signings that will grab headlines. It will truly benefit the Bears during the long stretch of the season when they need a good play on special teams to pin an opponent deep.
That is where guys like Johnson thrive. Every year, it feels like the Chicago Bears add somebody like this when nobody’s paying attention. Then the player makes a big tackle or blocks a kick or punt. This is what good teams manage to do. Holding a roster together year upon year is impossible these days. You must be able to scour the market for help on the margins every offseason. Otherwise, things will eventually fall apart. Say what you will about Poles, but the man has a keen eye for players like Johnson.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
The Bears have maintained a strong core on special teams.
Unsurprisingly, they retained Josh Blackwell. The cornerback has arguably been their best player in that phase since he arrived a few years ago. He is joined by edge rusher Daniel Hardy and safety Elijah Hicks as the core trio of the Bears’ coverage unit, with Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas bolstering the return team. Johnson should be a big help, as will Sanborn. Fellow linebacker Tony Fields II should also become a factor once he returns from Injured Reserve. All in all, it’s a solid unit that special teams coordinator Richard Hightower has to work with.
No doubt he had sway when the Bears made this move. The coach has quietly become one of the better special teams coaches in the NFL. He’s consistently demonstrated a sharp eye for talent, particularly among linebackers. You saw it with D’Marco Jackson last year, Amen Ogbongbemiga in 2024, and Elijah Lee in 2022. If anybody knows how to deploy Johnson, it’ll be Hightower.
