Locals in the Pro Bowl: Jaylon Johnson helps seal NFC win, but his contract takes spotlight

AROUND THE SHIELD — He has four years of film in Chicago and an All-Pro season most recently, but Jaylon Johnson made another case to earn a hefty contract Sunday in Orlando.

The former University of Utah cornerback who just finished his fourth season with the Chicago Bears broke up C.J. Stroud's pass attempt to Keenan Allen, forcing a turnover on downs with four seconds remaining to help the NFC win the flag football portion of the Pro Bowl Games.

Johnson finished with five tackles and a pass defended, and NFC teammate Bobby Wagner — the former Utah State star most recently from the Seattle Seahawks who earned his ninth Pro Bowl nod — added three tackles and a pass defended.

Off the field, Johnson's likely potential free agency was also a headline in central Florida. He's said he would "love to stay" in Chicago, but has also publicly said he deserves a significant pay increase.

The first-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro who was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection in college is an impending free agent with the Bears, who drafted him in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Johnson had the best season of his career in Year 4 in the league, posting 36 tackles, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions, earning a league-best 90.8 rating by Pro Football Focus that included a 91.0 coverage grade.

He's been open about wanting a significant raise in a season where he proved himself as one of the league's top cover corners, sought an extension with the Bears and asked for a trade.

"Heart's definitely in Chicago, mind's definitely on the money," Johnson said after Saturday's practice, per NFL.com. "So, I mean, we'll figure out if we can make them both come together and get something done. I'm looking forward to see what's to come."

Former BYU star and NFL rookie record holder Puka Nacua caught passes off a wakeboard during the skills competition, and also finished with three catches for 27 yards during Sunday's flag-football finale that further showcases the game ahead of its Olympic debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

But as is customary at all-star games, players talked — a lot — during the Pro Bowl Games, both in formal media interviews, on-field look-ins, and in lighthearted trash talk at the league's annual end-of-season celebration.

Nacua spoke with plenty of sources, and used one of his mics to shout out his former teammates after BYU's first season in the Big 12.

"I'm excited to go back and see, to work with some of the guys," he said. "But I love what I saw in just this first year."

He also helped fan a few flames of the Cougars' historic in-state rivalry series that will return from a brief hiatus this fall with the first in-conference edition since BYU and Utah left the Mountain West in 2011.

"I know the last time I played in the Holy War, we won it. So that's how it was left off," Nacua said. "I'm sure those other guys will love a chance to get a dub, but it's going to stay down there in Provo for a while."

Is it safe to assume Nacua has Nov. 9 circled on his calendar, too?

Former Weber State star Rashid Shaheed had one catch for 6 yards for the NFC, and showed his athleticism by playing defense — he even defended a pass. Former Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew was the AFC's all-special teams selection after totaling 26 tackles with 21 solo stops and a safety in 17 games in Pittsburgh.

Former BYU star Fred Warner was among the inactives on the roster as the San Francisco 49ers arrived in Las Vegas ahead of next weekend's Super Bowl.

Pro Bowl Games

NFC 50, AFC 34

NFC

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah (Chicago Bears): Starting cornerback had five tackles and a pass defended.
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State (Seattle Seahawks): Starting middle linebacker posted three tackles and a pass defended.
• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem (Los Angeles Rams): Reserve receiver caught three passes for 27 yards.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State (New Orleans Saints): Reserve receiver caught one pass for 6 yards and defended a pass on defense.
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (Detroit Lions): Started at right tackle.

AFC

• Miles Killebrew, ST, Southern Utah (Pittsburgh Steelers): Played on special teams.

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