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Contract extension 'a dream come true' for Josh Blackwell

Story by Gabby Hajduk

"Wow, one day."

As a kid, Josh Blackwell remembers those words running through his mind each time he saw a star athlete pose for a contract signing photo.

Growing up just 45 minutes north of Atlanta in Buford, Ga., Blackwell can vividly recall when Falcons All-Pro receiver Julio Jones inked his first major extension. That "extended" graphic with the contract news attached to it was a symbol of success, a fulfillment of a dream.

To go from envisioning himself in that iconic setting back when he was a high school cornerback fielding his first collegiate offers to living it last Thursday when he signed his own two-year extension with the Bears was nothing short of special.

"It's 100% emotional, 100% a dream come true," Blackwell told ChicagoBears.com. "Look at just three years ago where I was and then look at now. It's a surreal moment.

"This is something that I've dreamed of my entire life — to be somewhere, signing a piece of paper with 'extended' behind you. You see it all the time, especially growing up in sports, you get to see all your favorite players do it. It's like, I wanna do that one day."

Blackwell's extension came three years into his NFL journey, which he started as a undrafted free agent out of Duke in 2022. After being picked up, then cut by the Eagles multiple times that summer, he joined the Bears off waivers Aug. 31, 2022, determined to stick. And he did.

Through his young career in Chicago, appearing in 43 games, including all 17 in 2024, Blackwell has evolved into a core member of the Bears' special teams unit under coordinator Richard Hightower and a valuable depth piece in the cornerback room. He's known by teammates and coaches as a versatile speedster who can do just about anything asked of him and a humble, yet extreme competitor who works tirelessly to be a pro's pro.

While his talent is now recognized around the league, Blackwell remembers a time when it felt as though his potential was only seen by those inside Halas Hall. The opportunity to keep building on that foundation in Chicago — a place where he's expanded his confidence, earned the trust of the team's leaders and deepened his passion for his unique role — feels like a full-circle moment for Blackwell.

"Just like with anybody, people want to be where they are wanted," Blackwell said. "Chicago saw the value in me before anybody else really even did. I thought I had found myself a little niche here where I could continue to play at a high level. And I think the biggest thing for guys like me is just stability. This business is really volatile, and you can be in one place today, and the next place tomorrow. So having somewhere you could be for some time is great. That was easy for me, a no brainer."

As a steady, talented presence at cornerback for the Blue Devils during his collegiate career, Blackwell entered the NFL with limited special teams experience. He totaled 25 punt returns at Duke, but had no experience on the coverage units.

That changed just two games into his pro career.

In the Bears' Week 2 matchup in Green Bay on Sunday Night Football Sept. 18, 2022, when the special teams unit suffered an injury in the third quarter, Hightower called on Blackwell.

"I wasn't even a gunner yet," Blackwell said. "I was on two special teams units — kickoff and kick return. I didn't do anything else. We had an injury, and he was like, 'it's on you.' I had done it a couple times in the preseason, but I didn't do anything in those games."

Hightower and Blackwell can still recall that moment almost perfectly. The Bears' punt went 57 yards from the Chicago 29 to the Green Bay 14 down the right sideline.

Blackwell had a strong release off the line, beat his man with speed and, in Hightower's words, made an "unbelievable tackle," hitting Packers returner Amari Rodgers from high to low with his head at the right angle.

"From that point, with the joy that I saw him and his teammates have when he jumped up, you could just tell something was brewing after that," Hightower said.

"He just kept making more and more plays, so in that moment I knew that he was able to take the coaching that we had given him in the classroom, apply it to the field and go out and make it happen. He grew every week like that his rookie year."

Blackwell felt that something too. He was surprised by the play he made against the Packers, but it was a realization moment for him.

Looking back on his rookie year, Blackwell could see that Hightower believed in him before he really believed in himself, which sparked both a deep desire to be an impact player on special teams and a deep relationship between the pair.

"It was little things like that play in Green Bay," Blackwell said. "He didn't have to put me out there. He could have grabbed somebody else, but he chose me and now you look three years later, I'm one of the guys on special teams. That little choice that he made snowballed into where I'm at now."

Through his career, Blackwell has recorded 22 special teams tackles, the most by any Bears player over the last three years, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. In 2024, he totaled seven special teams tackles (tied for third-most on the team) and produced one of the top plays of the season with a 94-yard fake punt return touchdown in the Bears' Week 18 road victory in Green Bay.

Blackwell also showcased his abilities as a reliable nickel back reserve this past season when Kyler Gordon suffered an injury in the Bears' Week 6 win over the Jaguars in London. Blackwell stepped in to play 48% of the defensive snaps and recorded his first career interception, picking off Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the fourth quarter.

To those who observe Blackwell on a daily basis, it's no surprise he's excelled in multiple areas for the Bears. If Halas Hall was a high school, Hightower could picture Blackwell winning the "most likely to succeed" superlative because of his intelligence, work ethic and willingness to play above and beyond.

While Blackwell arrived in Chicago with all of those traits, he credits Hightower for helping get the best out of him and his teammates.

"You wanna play 10 times harder for a guy like 'HT' because he cares so much about you, and he puts so much into it for us," Blackwell said. "He does a really good job of showing us that he cares and wants to see our success, so we'll go to the ends of the earth to make things happen."

Blackwell believes his relationship with Hightower "really transcends football." It's why his coach was one of the first people he ran to — literally — last Thursday. It's why Hightower accompanied him to that dream-come-true signing photo. And it's what makes Hightower excited for the future.

"It was special seeing him and him running to my office that day," Hightower shared. "The hug he gave me — he wouldn't let me go. We had a bunch of those that day where he wouldn't let me go.

"That just shows me how appreciative he is to the organization and to everyone for believing in him. And we're appreciative to him for the work that he's put in on the field and for the person that he is. He's a person that we wanted to make sure would be a big part of what we had going forward, so kudos to our personnel department, [Matt] Feinstein and [Ryan] Poles and Ben [Johnson] for wanting him to be a part of what we've got going forward."

"Icing on the cake."

That's how Blackwell describes his 94-yard trick punt return touchdown at Lambeau Field in the season finale in terms of what it meant for the future of his career in Chicago.

"I think I had solidified myself as a player well before that, but that was like, now you can't deny it," Blackwell said. "That's another thing about HT. That's not an easy play that you don't just put in for a random guy. You have to have a lot of trust in your players."

For the entire Bears roster, coaching staff, organization and fanbase — that moment, which culminated in a 24-22 win over Green Bay, was unforgettable.

"I think it was really impactful for the organization, the city, finally beating Green Bay at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2015," Blackwell added.

Blackwell is right — that wasn't an easy play that anyone could have pulled off. Receiver DJ Moore dropped back to return the punt and with the ball in the air, drifted to his left to fake out the Packers coverage team. The ball headed the other way, where Blackwell caught it over-the-shoulder after initially blocking a gunner downfield. Then, he was gone.

In all, Blackwell covered 138.3 yards from snap to score, which was the longest distance traveled by a ball carrier on a touchdown since Sept. 29, 2019.

Blackwell gained Hightower's trust on that play through his thorough preparation. Blackwell worked to get the perfect timing, ensuring he'd be positioned correctly. He studied the tendencies of his opponent. He earned the opportunity to be a playmaker.

"That whole game was about the city, the organization and how special that win would be for us," Hightower said, "especially at a time when we needed it the most. It just shows what kind of fighter, what kind of competitor and how much resilience that Josh has even when the cards could be stacked against him. The true test of a man, a true test of Josh is that play, how much adversity he battled through to even be in that spot."

When Blackwell reached the end zone unscathed, the play was solidified as a core memory for those players.

"It was real special for the group," Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga said. "Obviously it was a big moment for Josh, but it was something that we had talked about and harped on all year. We all went up to HT and told him, 'yo, this is the time. Let's do it.' We called it and we all did our jobs.

"It worked out perfectly. DJ came on, he bluffed and took everyone's attention. Once I saw them going to that side, I knew what was going to come out of that. It was a staple moment on the season, and it was a refreshing thing to end the year on."

Ogbongbemiga — another key player for Hightower's unit — also earned a contract extension with the Bears last Thursday, helping create continuity in the special teams room. The linebacker shared the team lead with a career-high 11 special teams tackles last season and is grateful to build on his success in Chicago alongside Blackwell and Hightower.

"I came here last year not really what to expect," Ogbongbemiga said. "I've formed a great bond with a lot of the guys in the room. We have a great group of guys that work hard and work together. The record didn't show, but we were a very close-knit group and we fought for each other.

"I'm excited to get to continue with these guys because it's really a great room with a bunch of dudes that love the game and love playing for one another. I'm thankful to the staff, coach Johnson, HT for allowing me to get another opportunity to represent the team in Chicago. I'm excited for what's to come."

Whether it's from Hightower, Ogbongbemiga, Blackwell or, really, any member of the Bears organization, a sense of joy is apparent when discussing that win over the Packers.

For Blackwell, it allowed him to see what he already meant to the Bears and how bright his future can be in Chicago. In the days following that season-ending victory, he received hundreds of calls, texts and direct messages from family, friends he hadn't talked to in years and fans he's never met.

It also set the tone for 2025 and left players excited for what's to come next season. Being around Halas Hall the past couple of week with a solidified roster spot moving forward, Blackwell can feel the energy building.

"I'm looking forward to one, getting started, but two, I'm excited to win," Blackwell said. "I have a feeling this is what we needed as an organization. Following OTAs, going into camp and into the season, I think there will be a lot of exciting things to witness. I'm looking forward to getting started and winning. That's the goal. That's what everybody's goal here is to win."