Jaylon Johnson Reveals Sexual Addiction

Bears cornerback says he achieved biggest season and $76 million deal while undergoing therapy for sexual addiction.

Jaylon Johnson rarely fails to surprise with comments on anything.

He lived up to a reputation for being candid Monday when he met with media about getting his four-year, $76 million deal.

Johnson used the occasion, with family and friends in attendance, to reveal unsolicited about how he battled a sexual addiction last year while also fighting on the field to obtain his new contract.

"I went to therapy last season for sexual addiction," Johnson said. "That was the hardest thing for me to open up to my therapist about.

"That is something nobody knew about."

He called it a time to reveal this because it's simply necessary.

"I want to say, for one, it's because I know I'm not the only one going through it, for one," Johnson said. "Two, it's OK to go through stuff; it's OK not to be perfect."

Johnson labeled what he went through personally as much tougher than what he had to do on Sundays as he became a second-team All-Pro.

"I was worried about trying to get myself right because for me it's bigger than contracts," Johnson said. "I mean, 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, that's more important."

Getting his four interceptions and being named Pro Football Focus' top cornerback proved he was able to do both but it wasn't easy.

"Everybody was talking about playing football—that's easy," Johnson said. "I mean, just going out and seeing my therapist on an off day, it's like, damn, that's where I'm most uncomfortable."

Moving forward, Johnson feels empowered to continue his success on the field after acknowledging his addiction and going through therapy.

"If anything it boosted me up into being who I needed to be," he said. "Like I said, in that place of vulnerability, I had a breakthrough. I had a breakthrough with myself and I had a breakthrough on the football field. I wouldn't say it affected me (playing). If anything it boosted me to be who I know I am."

Jackson has something else to overcome now, too. Mainly, he'll need to overcome the complacency often associated with getting a big contract.

"I mean, the contract changes some people, but I'm not one of those," Johnson said.

The reason is he has more to live up to than just the cash.

"For me, I still got a lot to prove to myself," Johnson said. "And I mean just goals just continue to be set and you set new ones. The money doesn't stop the hunger."

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