Chicago Bears Austin Booker Breaks Silence On Controversial Hit On Jordan Love
In the aftermath of the Chicago Bears’ intense Week 16 victory over their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, defensive end Austin Booker has broken his silence regarding the hit that sidelined Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The play, which resulted in a concussion for Love and removed him from the game, has sparked debate among fans and analysts, but Booker maintains it was simply a part of the game.
Chicago Bears Austin Booker: “Just Playing Football”
The incident occurred during the second quarter when Booker delivered a sack that ended Love’s night. While Booker was flagged for roughing the passer on the play, he pushed back against the notion that there was any malicious intent behind the contact.
Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, the second-year edge rusher emphasized that he harbors no hostility toward the Packers quarterback.
“I’m just playing football, making a tackle,” Booker stated. “He ducked his head and football plays happen.”
When asked about the potential for further disciplinary action from the league, such as a fine, Booker appeared unbothered, focusing instead on the nature of the sport. “If they want to, they can,” he said. “Shoot, we’re just playing football. Whatever happens, happens. I pray for him but he’s out there on the football field just like everybody else. Injuries happen every day. Football is football.”
Coach and Player Reactions
Bears head coach Ben Johnson defended his player while acknowledging the unfortunate outcome. Johnson described the sequence as a “bang-bang play” that is difficult to coach against from a technical standpoint given the speed of the game.
“We talked about — you get in these big games and you can get a little bit emotional because it’s a division rival and you want to make an impact,” Johnson explained. “We don’t want to shy away from that — we want to play aggressive, and we want to be a very physical team.”
While Johnson admitted the hit was “one hundred percent a flag” because it resulted in a concussion, he reiterated that injuring an opponent is “not what anybody wants.”
Former Bears players also weighed in to support Booker. Former center Olin Kreutz and defensive tackle Henry Melton both characterized the incident as a standard football play rather than a “dirty” act, suggesting that the speed of the collision made the helmet-to-helmet contact incidental rather than targeted.
Moving Forward
The injury to Love significantly altered the landscape of the rivalry game, forcing backup quarterback Malik Willis into action for the Packers. For Booker and the Bears, the focus now shifts to their upcoming Week 17 clash against the San Francisco 49ers. However, the play serves as a reminder of the physical intensity inherent in divisional matchups and the fine line defenders must walk in today’s NFL.
