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Pivot Podcast

Chicago's Jaylon Johnson top NFL cornerback shares his bigger vision, talks WR matchups, Ben Johnson’s leadership, Caleb Williams, contract market shifts, and how faith and therapy helped him overcome sexual addiction

Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast Network

Football, Sports, Society & Culture

4.93.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 September 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“I think it was important in my highest moment, to talk about my lowest moment because if it wasn’t for God’s work in my life, I wouldn’t be who I am now…. Going into that season, my mind was so cloudy and cluttered, I didn’t have the right focus and I knew I needed to get help.” -Jaylon Johnson In one of the most humbling and revealing episodes of The Pivot Podcast yet, Chicago Bears star cornerback Jaylon Johnson sits down with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder for a conversation that dives far deeper than football. With a new contract as one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the league, Jaylon is revitalized by the Bears culture under leadership of new head coach Ben Johnson and believes his accountability to players is helping Quarterback Caleb Williams lead the team better with emphasis on competition and execution. He breaks down the tough wide receiver match ups he faces, who his style of play is modeled after and the games he has circled on the 2025 schedule. But beyond Xs and Os—Jaylon dives deep into his personal growth, fatherhood, giving back through his foundation, and what it really means to stay true to yourself in a league that tries to mold you. Known on the field as one of the NFL’s rising shutdown corners, Jaylon opens up about the battles he’s fought off the field — including his deeply personal struggle with porn addiction and the role his faith in God played in his journey toward healing and freedom. With honesty and vulnerability, he shares how he reached a breaking point, leaned into scripture, and found strength through surrender. Jaylon also talks about growing up in Fresno, the loss of his close friend and how it fueled his mission, becoming a father at a young age, and why his purpose now goes beyond interceptions and contracts. Jaylon’s life is guided by something bigger than football and this conversation is about redemption, resilience, and redefining manhood—as he opens up like never before, proving that true strength starts within. Thank you to Toyota and as you heard, we talked about Toyota's all in partnership with football and game day giveaways, Learn more at https://toyota.com/nfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Jalen Johnson was built to be a number one corner.

0:04.8

But we also learned that he was built and is so much more.

0:08.9

Both his father and brother were Division I corners, so they trained Jalen to do the exact same thing.

0:15.1

The Fresno kid always knew what the plan was, so the trappings of the streets never excited

0:20.6

him.

0:21.8

He worked his way to the University of Utah, and he still has nightmares of being all dressed up on draft day

0:27.2

number one, only to wait into the 50th pick to hear the bears call his name. He signed a four-year

0:33.0

$76 million extension just two all seasons ago, but he still feels like he deserves more.

0:40.0

During that press conference, he shared that while having an all-pro season, he was actively

0:44.6

in therapy for sex addiction, a revelation that was new to everyone around him except his wife.

0:51.6

He's ready for the first start of the season against the Lions after missing

0:55.1

last week's game. He believes in Ben Johnson's structure and he's seen the work that Caleb Williams

1:00.8

have put in. He knows now they just have to execute. We tap in on all those things and more,

1:07.0

like the best wide outs, circled matchups, and giving back to his community. Chan, Freddie T and me sit with Jalen Johnson right now.

1:15.6

Yeah, Chan, he got more muscles than you.

1:17.6

Yeah, he got more muscle to me.

1:19.6

He gets paid to have money.

1:21.6

How you doing, man?

1:23.6

That's your reason for it?

1:25.6

Bro.

1:26.6

Yes. I worked out for 17 years to get paid. Then I got paid. What? Why am I working out anymore? So when they stop paying, you start working out? Yes. I'm not going in the gym 6 a.m. and I make no money? For who? For what? By 6 a.m. no? You go 6 p 6 p.m. But I just, man, I just don't like to work you.

1:46.0

Man, I'd have drank a bottle of wine by 6 p.m. I can't go long. That's fine. Hold out. Limitless. Naga's a pinning it. I far to hear to witness it. My people feeling militant. Where I'm feeling got me up

...

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