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  "path": "/bears/2026/03/25/as-ohio-state-star-kayden-mcdonald-prepares-to-visit-bears-he-says-im-their-no-1-guy",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-25T21:10:43.360Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>COLUMBUS, Ohio — Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald never lets up, and as he ripped through tackling dummies and blasted into blocking sleds at Ohio State’s pro day Wednesday, his screams echoed through the fieldhouse as representatives from every NFL team, including a dozen head coaches and general managers, watched nearby.</p><p>McDonald is a true monster in the middle and grew into a first-round prospect for the upcoming draft, where <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >the Bears</a> have their eyes on him at No. 25. He’s everything they’ve been missing since the days of Akiem Hicks.</p><p>“I’m just a powerful player,” McDonald told the Sun-Times. “You know what you’re going to get out of me. I’m the strongest guy on the defense and I’m a natural. Football comes easy for me.”</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center><div class=\"Enhancement-item\"> <div class=\"ExternalContent-wrapper\" data-embed> <iframe width=\"200\" height=\"113\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5kkzbQEl8Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen title=\"Big Mac 🍔 | Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Report & Scouting Profile\"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>He’s widely projected to go late in the first round, and the Bears have shown significant interest. While general manager Ryan Poles was at Alabama pro day on Wednesday, likely with some interest in offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, the team had a scout tracking McDonald at Ohio State.</p><p>McDonald said his first pre-draft visit will be a trip to Halas Hall on April 1 and has gotten a strong impression that he stands atop the Bears’ draft board if he’s still around at No. 25.</p><p>“They’ve talked to me a lot,” he said. “I’m their No. 1 guy. That’s what I feel like. They seem very excited to get me up there.</p><p>“They say they like how I play and they like my motor. I play all four quarters and I’m relentless.”</p><p>He has some work to do on countermoves in the pass rush and gets overly aggressive at times, perhaps veering from his assignment in order to try for a big play, but there’s little doubt about the impact and presence he brings to the line of scrimmage.</p><p>McDonald got attention as a backup to first-round pick Tyleik Williams during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season, then carried that momentum into a starting role last season. He had 65 tackles, including nine for loss, forced two fumbles and was voted an All-American.</p><p>He’s one of five Buckeyes likely to go in the first round next month, joining pass rusher Arvell Reese, safety Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate. If that happens, the program will have produced 15 first-round picks in last five drafts.</p><p>Playing under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, the former Lions head coach and Patriots coordinator, McDonald frequently played over the center and constantly was “just knocking people back,” as coach Ryan Day put it. He was a force against the run and as a pass rusher and had three sacks last season.</p><p>The Bears badly need that type of disruption in the middle of their defensive line, which has been a persistent problem for Poles throughout his tenure.</p><p>After pouring major resources into the unit, including a second-round pick to draft Gervon Dexter and a big contract for veteran Grady Jarrett, they allowed the sixth-most yards rushing in the NFL last season. They also were tied for the seventh-fewest sacks.</p><p>The Bears have been bottom-five in the league in run defense and sacks since Poles took over in 2022.</p><p>With Dexter going into the final season of his contract and the Bears holding a manageable out on Jarrett’s deal after this season, reloading on the defensive line would make sense. They drafted defensive lineman <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/04/25/texas-a-m-defensive-tackle-shemar-turner-really-checks-the-boxes-for-bears-dc-dennis-allens-defense\" >Shemar Turner</a> in the second round last year, and he’s likely to play defensive end once he’s back from a torn ACL.</p><p>It’s nearly impossible to be a strong defense without difference makers up front, and the last two Super Bowl winners, the Eagles and Seahawks, won with waves of talented defensive linemen. The Bears have some catching up to do in that area, and an explosive player like McDonald could move them closer to that level.</p><p></p><p></p><bsp-list-loadmore class=\"PageListH\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-bc0001\" name=\"list-bc0001\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, items=[{description=[{items=[The collective-bargaining agreement between the league and the NFLRA expires at the end of May.]}], type=Image, category=[{items=[Bears]}], _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, title=NFL wants to use replay to help replacement refs in case of labor impasse, target=null, anchorId=promo-100000, primaryMediaType=null, timestamp=1774458200000, wordCount=245, publishDate=March 25, 2026 12:03 PM, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, media=[{alt=BEARS-010526-08.jpg, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/06/c6/5336fec240b88de48b393a0f957d/bears-010526-08.jpg, width=5878, height=3921}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/06/c6/5336fec240b88de48b393a0f957d/bears-010526-08.jpg, width=5878, height=3921}}], ampLink=null, audio=[], audioDuration=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/25/nfl-wants-to-use-replay-to-help-replacement-refs-in-case-of-labor-impasse, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=patrick-finley-0.jpg, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, name=[{items=[Patrick Finley]}], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[Patrick Finley covers the Bears and the NFL for the Sun-Times after previous stops in Arizona, Florida and California.]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}]}], _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, description=[{items=[The Bears could eye a pair of promising players from Notre Dame in the second round, where they pick at Nos. 57 and 60 overall.]}], authors=[{jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}]}], _styledTemplate=null, title=Notre Dame star RB Jeremiyah Love out of Bears' reach, but other prospects intrigue at pro day, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, timestamp=1774390077000, anchorId=promo-100001, category=[{items=[Bears]}], wordCount=650, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/24/notre-dame-star-rb-jeremiyah-love-out-of-bears-reach-but-other-prospects-intrigue-at-pro-day, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, ampLink=null, publishDate=March 24, 2026 05:07 PM, media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Notre Dame Pro Day Football, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/e9/dc/04ef1fbd444ea4af5722d0a6eda0/ap26083694430494.jpg, width=4975, height=3317}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/e9/dc/04ef1fbd444ea4af5722d0a6eda0/ap26083694430494.jpg, width=4975, height=3317}}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, category=[{items=[Bears]}], _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, description=[{items=[After a relatively quiet free agency, the list of issues the Bears need Johnson to figure out going into this season is long, including uncertainty on both lines of scrimmage, the secondary and at wide receiver.]}], title=Bears coach Ben Johnson was a savvy problem solver in Year 1 — now he has to do it all over again, anchorId=promo-100002, publishDate=March 20, 2026 02:22 PM, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, timestamp=1774034528000, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/96/05/612582104ad88db31e528b29bc1c/johnson-ben-21.jpg, width=6059, height=4041}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/96/05/612582104ad88db31e528b29bc1c/johnson-ben-21.jpg, width=6059, height=4041}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=BEARS-111025-25.jpg}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, ampLink=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/20/bears-coach-ben-johnson-was-a-savvy-problem-solver-in-year-1-now-he-has-to-do-it-all-over-again, wordCount=924, authors=[{bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}]}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, pageCount=6852, carouselAutoPlay=false, promoTitleFont=font-2, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListH.hbs, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, hideImage=false, suppressPagination=true, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, title=Latest on the Bears, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, anchorId=list-bc0001, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, count=20556, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Bears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items\" data-with-borders data-list-loadmore-items> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"NFL wants to use replay to help replacement refs in case of labor impasse\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/25/nfl-wants-to-use-replay-to-help-replacement-refs-in-case-of-labor-impasse\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/534c79a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5858x3921+11+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F06%2Fc6%2F5336fec240b88de48b393a0f957d%2Fbears-010526-08.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bc2e082/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5858x3921+11+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F06%2Fc6%2F5336fec240b88de48b393a0f957d%2Fbears-010526-08.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"BEARS-010526-08.jpg\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bc2e082/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5858x3921+11+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F06%2Fc6%2F5336fec240b88de48b393a0f957d%2Fbears-010526-08.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/25/nfl-wants-to-use-replay-to-help-replacement-refs-in-case-of-labor-impasse\" >NFL wants to use replay to help replacement refs in case of labor impasse</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The collective-bargaining agreement between the league and the NFLRA expires at the end of May.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1774458200000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley\" >Patrick Finley </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"245\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> 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data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5846ec2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4955x3317+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe9%2Fdc%2F04ef1fbd444ea4af5722d0a6eda0%2Fap26083694430494.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Notre Dame Pro Day Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5846ec2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4955x3317+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe9%2Fdc%2F04ef1fbd444ea4af5722d0a6eda0%2Fap26083694430494.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/24/notre-dame-star-rb-jeremiyah-love-out-of-bears-reach-but-other-prospects-intrigue-at-pro-day\" >Notre Dame star RB Jeremiyah Love out of Bears' reach, but other prospects intrigue at pro day</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The Bears could eye a pair of promising players from Notre Dame in the second round, where they pick at Nos. 57 and 60 overall.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1774390077000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"650\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Bears coach Ben Johnson was a savvy problem solver in Year 1 — now he has to do it all over again\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/20/bears-coach-ben-johnson-was-a-savvy-problem-solver-in-year-1-now-he-has-to-do-it-all-over-again\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dacbaf7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6037x4041+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F96%2F05%2F612582104ad88db31e528b29bc1c%2Fjohnson-ben-21.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/23ca156/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6037x4041+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F96%2F05%2F612582104ad88db31e528b29bc1c%2Fjohnson-ben-21.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"BEARS-111025-25.jpg\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/23ca156/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6037x4041+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F96%2F05%2F612582104ad88db31e528b29bc1c%2Fjohnson-ben-21.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/03/20/bears-coach-ben-johnson-was-a-savvy-problem-solver-in-year-1-now-he-has-to-do-it-all-over-again\" >Bears coach Ben Johnson was a savvy problem solver in Year 1 — now he has to do it all over again</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">After a relatively quiet free agency, the list of issues the Bears need Johnson to figure out going into this season is long, including uncertainty on both lines of scrimmage, the secondary and at wide receiver.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1774034528000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"924\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageList-footer\"> </div> </bsp-list-loadmore><p></p>",
  "title": "As Ohio State star Kayden McDonald prepares to visit Bears, he says, 'I'm their No. 1 guy'",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-25T21:49:03.139Z"
}