Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears bounced back with a 31-23 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, improving their record to 4-2.

After the win, the Bears’ media team shared footage from the flight home, including a special moment in which Johnson presented defensive tackle Grady Jarrett with a game ball following his return to Atlanta, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his NFL career.

NFL fans on X praised Johnson for acknowledging Jarrett’s contribution and recognizing the significance of his return to the city where he began his professional career.

Ben Johnson Praised for Special Gesture Toward Grady Jarrett

In a clip posted on X, Johnson took over the plane’s announcement system to pay tribute to Jarrett and hand him a game ball.

“I’ve been holding back one more game ball,” Johnson said. “One more game ball, Joe Thuney, not for you, but for somebody special. We’re bringing Atlanta’s finest back with us to Chicago. Give me Grady Jarrett up here.

After receiving the ball, Jarrett addressed his teammates and thanked them for welcoming him to Chicago.

One fan lauded Johnson for making sure Jarrett received the recognition. “Never a wrong time to do the right thing,” the fan applauded.

Another fan recognized Johnson’s gesture after Jarrett’s strong start to the season. “Grady been balling this year. Well deserved,” the fan remarked.

“Ben Johnson is not real,” another fan wrote.

A fan was complimentary of the Bears team culture created by Johnson. “Super cool access. What comes with good culture is good content. Love it,” the fan wrote.

One recognized how well the Bears’ coach handled Jarrett’s return to Atlanta.

“That’s a great gesture from Johnson, Jarrett’s return deserved a special moment like that,” the fan posted.

“Forgot to hand it over in the locker room. Fixed it at 30,000 feet. Same as a good salesman. You miss a thank you, you go back and make it right. Do game balls on the plane count double?” The fan joked.

Jarrett played college football for the Clemson Tigers before he was selected No. 137 overall by the Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft. After 10 seasons with Atlanta, Jarrett was released in 2025 and later joined Johnson’s Bears.

The defensive tackle signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the Bears last season, establishing himself as one of the defensive stalwarts on the team. The Bears’ defense has been one of its strongest units this season, ranking 11th in PFN Defense Impact Score with a grade of 77.0.

Since succeeding Matt Eberflus in 2025, Johnson has been credited with creating a strong dressing room culture in Chicago. He finished his first season in charge with an 11-6 record, becoming just the third Bears coach to win 10 or more games in his first season at the helm.

Johnson not only led Chicago to its first playoff win since 2010 but was also the first head coach in Bears history to win a postseason game in his first season. It made him an instant fan favorite in Chicago even as he rebuilds the NFC North giants.