New Bears DB Clark Phillips III has quiet history with Jaylon Johnson
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New Bears DB Clark Phillips III has quiet history with Jaylon Johnson
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 10: Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Chicago Bears looks on before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
(Patrick McDermott, Getty Images)
Randy Holt, Bears Wire·Bears Wire
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2 min read
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On cutdown day, theChicago Bearsacquired defensive backClark Phillips IIIform theAtlanta Falconsas part of their deal parting with defensive tackleGervon Dexter. While Phillips' role has yet to be determined — especially in the wake of the versatility he offers the team's secondary — he already has a connection to one prominent name in the room.
Phillips attended the University of Utah. His best season came in 2022 when he notched six interceptions across 12 games (two of which were returned for touchdowns) and was named a consensus All-American. His predecessor with the Utes? OneJaylon Johnson.
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"Just missed him," Phillips said. "I was an early enrollee, so I was getting in like January [2020], late December [2019], and he was leaving because he didn't play in the last bowl game. So, it was like I was pulling up and he was dipping, so I like to say he passed the torch. It was like one in and one out."
QB Caleb Williams
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
QB Tyson Bagent
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
QB Case Keenum
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
RB D'Andre Swift
(Patrick McDermott, Getty Images)
RB Kyle Monangai
(Joseph Maiorana, Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images)
RB Roschon Johnson
(Patrick Gorski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WR Rome Odunze
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
WR Luther Burden III
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
WR Kalif Raymond
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WR Zavion Thomas
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WR Jahdae Walker
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
TE Colston Loveland
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
TE Cole Kmet
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
TE Sam Roush
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
TE Hayden Large
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
OL Joe Thuney
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
OL Darnell Wright
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
OL Jonah Jackson
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
OL Garrett Bradbury
(Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images)
OL Ozzy Trapilo
(Dylan Buell, Getty Images)
OL Braxton Jones
(David Banks-Imagn Images)
OL Logan Jones
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL Jordan McFadden
(Denny Medley, Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
OL Luke Newman
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL Theo Benedet
(Chris Unger, Getty Images)
DL Montez Sweat
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
DL Grady Jarrett
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
DL Austin Booker
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DL Jordan van den Berg
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DL Neville Gallimore
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DL Kentavius Street
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DL Jayden Loving
(Jim Dedmon, Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
DL Daniel Hardy
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
DL Jamree Kromah
(Patrick Gorski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LB T.J. Edwards
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
LB Devin Bush
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LB D'Marco Jackson
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LB Keyshaun Elliott
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
CB Jaylon Johnson
(Patrick McDermott, Getty Images)
CB Tyrique Stevenson
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
CB Malik Muhammad
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
CB Clark Phillips III
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
CB Josh Blackwell
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
S Coby Bryant
(Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images)
S Dillon Thieneman
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
S Xavier Woods
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
S Cam Lewis
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
S Elijah Hicks
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
S Skyler Thomas
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
K Cairo Santos
(Jeffrey Becker, Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
P Tory Taylor
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LS Beau Gardner
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
1/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Caleb Williams
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Caleb Williams
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Tyson Bagent
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
QB Case Keenum
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
4/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
RB D'Andre Swift
(Patrick McDermott, Getty Images)
5/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
RB Kyle Monangai
(Joseph Maiorana, Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images)
6/53
Bears vs. Browns: Photos from Chicago's 34-10 preseason win
RB Roschon Johnson
(Patrick Gorski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
7/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Rome Odunze
(Ian Maule, Getty Images)
8/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Luther Burden III
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
9/53
Chicago Bears training camp photos
WR Kalif Raymond
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
WR Zavion Thomas
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/53
Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
WR Jahdae Walker
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Colston Loveland
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Cole Kmet
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14/53
Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
TE Sam Roush
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
TE Hayden Large
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
16/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Joe Thuney
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
17/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Darnell Wright
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
18/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Jonah Jackson
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
19/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Garrett Bradbury
(Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images)
20/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Ozzy Trapilo
(Dylan Buell, Getty Images)
21/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Braxton Jones
(David Banks-Imagn Images)
22/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Logan Jones
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
23/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Jordan McFadden
(Denny Medley, Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
24/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Luke Newman
(Kamil Krzaczynski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
25/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
OL Theo Benedet
(Chris Unger, Getty Images)
26/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Montez Sweat
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
27/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Grady Jarrett
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
28/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Austin Booker
(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
29/53
Bears vs. Bengals: Photos from Chicago's Week 2 preseason loss
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
30/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jordan van den Berg
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
31/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Neville Gallimore
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
32/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Kentavius Street
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
33/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jayden Loving
(Jim Dedmon, Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
34/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Daniel Hardy
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
35/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
DL Jamree Kromah
(Patrick Gorski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
36/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB T.J. Edwards
(Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
37/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB Devin Bush
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
38/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB D'Marco Jackson
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
39/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LB Keyshaun Elliott
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
40/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Jaylon Johnson
(Patrick McDermott, Getty Images)
41/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Tyrique Stevenson
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
42/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Malik Muhammad
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
43/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Clark Phillips III
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
44/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
CB Josh Blackwell
(David Banks, David Banks-Imagn Images)
45/53
Ben Johnson provides injury rehab update on Bears S Coby Bryant
S Coby Bryant
(Geoff Stellfox, Getty Images)
46/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Dillon Thieneman
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
47/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Xavier Woods
(Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
48/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Cam Lewis
(Mike Dinovo, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
49/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Elijah Hicks
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
50/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
S Skyler Thomas
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
51/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
K Cairo Santos
(Jeffrey Becker, Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
52/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
P Tory Taylor
(Katie Stratman, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
53/53
Chicago Bears 53-man roster for 2026 season
LS Beau Gardner
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Johnson's shoes were surely difficult to fill. After a four-interception 2019 season, Johnson went on to be a second-round pick of theBearsin the 2020 NFL Draft. While the two didn't interact directly given the timing, Johnson's legacy at Utah left an impact on Phillips.
"He was somebody that I definitely watched," Phillips said. "With it being the same defense that I was coming into, it was easy to watch that film with the same calls, the same plays. It was like, 'OK, this is where you fit, this is what you're going to do and go make plays,' and we did that."
Phillips went on to have a more productive peak final season than Johnson from a statistical standpoint but hasn't established himself at the top level quite as much as Johnson since being selected in the fourth round back in 2023. One wonders if any kind of mentorship may be in store given that connection between a player still trying to establish himself as a regular and one of the Bears' veteran leaders on the locker room. Either way, that connection could prove to be a factor as Phillips gains his footing with the Bears.
