Just 12 Hours Before Showdown with 49ers, Bears Suddenly Activate Rookie Hailed as "Future MVP" to 53-Man Roster — HC Ben Johnson Calls Him a "Secret Weapon"
Chicago, Illinois – December 26, 2025
With just 12 hours remaining before Sunday Night Football between the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago made a bold, late decision that immediately caught the NFL’s attention. The Bears unexpectedly activated rookie tight end Thomas Gordon to the 53-man roster, a player the organization internally views as a “future MVP of the franchise.”
This was not a move born out of necessity. The Bears enter Week 17 at 11–4, tied with San Francisco atop the NFC, where every detail carries postseason consequences. Rather than choosing caution, Chicago elected to bet on explosive upside at the exact moment the stakes are highest.
Thomas Gordon is no stranger to the coaching staff. Over five seasons at Northwestern, Gordon recorded 54 receptions for 529 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by his 2024 campaign in which he posted 27 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown across 12 games, despite operating in a limited offensive system. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Gordon is viewed as a physical, collision-based tight end, dominant as a blocker while remaining a legitimate threat off play-action and in the red zone.
During 2025 training camp, Gordon quietly turned heads by consistently winning one-on-one reps against Bears linebackers and edge rushers, showcasing his ability to seal the edge in outside-zone concepts and secure the football in high-leverage situations. Assistant coaches have described him as one of the fastest risers on the practice squad, frequently earning reps with the first team during closed practices.
Head coach Ben Johnson did not hide his conviction behind the decision.
“We didn’t bring Thomas up to fill a spot; we brought him up to create impact. He’s the kind of player who forces opponents to stop the tape and erase the plan they spent all week building. When he steps onto the field, the game no longer follows the original script — and that’s the kind of force we believe can erupt and swing the outcome.”
Notably, all of the Bears’ primary tight ends are healthy, underscoring that Gordon’s activation was strategic, not reactive — a calculated move designed to introduce a new variable against San Francisco’s defense.
In the NFL, the phrase “future MVP” is never used lightly. But inside Halas Hall, Gordon is seen as a player with the physical traits, football intelligence, and competitive edge to explode when pressure peaks.
Sunday night will not define Thomas Gordon’s career.
But it may be the moment the NFL is forced to remember his name.
And if Ben Johnson is right, the Bears didn’t just add depth.
They may have ignited a spark capable of blowing open the biggest game of the season.
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