Reflective Jaylon Johnson reveals he sought therapy for sex addiction amid a journey that helped him find clarity in life: 'It's OK to go through things'

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — At a press conference Monday to address his new four-year, $76-million contract with the Bears, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson reflected on his emotional journey to this point and shared a deeply personal admission.

Johnson revealed that he sought therapy last year for a sexual addiction, explaining that was part of a process to find peace and clarity in his own life. He credited the family and friends closest to him for helping guide him forward.

Johnson made the admission during his opening statement Monday morning at Halas Hall, believing it could help those struggling like he has.

“It’s bigger than me,” Johnson said. “One, I’m not the only one going through it. Two, it’s OK to go through stuff. It’s OK to not be perfect. I feel like people put us literally on this pedestal to get up here and talk, ‘Oh, well guys are this, guys are that.’ Man, we’re human too. We go through things. Everybody goes through things. But I feel like people feel like you got to put a mask on, you got to cover it up. No, it’s OK to go through things. It’s OK to seek help. It’s OK to be vulnerable.

“Through my journey with God, it’s like his light shines when you’re in the dark. But when you’re trying to be on the pedestal and you’re trying to take all the glory and you’re trying to be something you’re not, that’s when you take away who God really is. You got to go low to really let God’s work shine. That’s when his miracles are done. That’s when his work is done.

“(Therapy) was harder than anything. Everybody talks about playing football games. That’s easy. Just going to see my therapist on off days, I'm like, damn, that’s where I'm uncomfortable. But just throughout the week, just preparing myself mentally, people talking about contracts, I wasn't worried about that. I was worried about trying to get myself right. For me, it’s bigger than the contracts. Me being who I need to be as a man, who I need to be as a father, as a partner, as a future husband, I mean, that’s more important. That’s something that will last way longer than this podium, way longer than this platform.”

Johnson said his personal struggles and his decision to seek therapy didn't become a danger to himself or his performance on the field, pointing out that nobody would’ve known about his sex addiction if he didn't choose to reveal it publicly.

The 24-year-old Johnson had a Pro Bowl campaign in 2023 in which he hauled in a career-best four interceptions and was graded as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus' metrics.

The Bears signed Johnson to a four-year contract that will lock him in as a cornerstone for the team’s future. For Johnson, there are now greater goals to achieve.

“I want to have a yellow jacket,” Johnson said. “I want to be the best 33 to wear the jersey. I have those types of goals and aspirations. With that and to get a yellow jacket, you got to be consistently great.

“That’s my goal.”

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .