Bears star complains about crucial penalty against 49ers that took away turnover

Chicago Bears antiaircraft backmost C.J. Gardner-Johnson complained astir a punishment that was called connected him successful the 2nd 4th against the San Francisco 49ers connected Sunday night.

The Bears and 49ers were successful the midst of an aggravated matchup. 49ers backmost Brock Purdy took a drawback from the Bears’ 7-yard enactment and threw the shot to Ricky Pearsall. Gardner-Johnson intercepted the walk successful what would person been a important turnover.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson #35 of the Chicago Bears reacts aft a play during the 2nd 4th of an NFL shot crippled against the San Francisco 49ers astatine Levi's Stadium connected Dec. 28, 2025 successful Santa Clara, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

However, Gardner-Johnson appeared to enactment his hands to Pearsall’s look astatine the snap. The punishment negated the turnover and Purdy would people connected a 3-yard tally 2 plays later. The 49ers took a 28-21 pb into halftime. San Francisco went connected to triumph the game, 42-38.

"BS telephone smh," helium wrote connected X.

Gardner-Johnson finished with 5 tackles and a walk breakup successful the loss.

The Purdy rushing touchdown was 1 of his 5 connected the night. He had 3 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing scores.

49ERS HOLD OFF BEARS TO KEEP NO. 1 SEED HOPES ALIVE AS BROCK PURDY TOTALS 5 TOUCHDOWNS IN WIN

Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) is congratulated by teammates aft returning an interception for a touchdown during the archetypal fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the San Francisco 49ers successful Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.  (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

The Bears became the 2nd squad successful the Super Bowl epoch to suffer a crippled successful the regular play erstwhile they scored astatine slightest 25 points, got a antiaircraft touchdown and didn’t crook the shot over.

"When you spell against a dynamic discourtesy similar that, you speech astir the possibilities arsenic an discourtesy of going tit-for-tat with them, and astatine times we whitethorn reply that call," Bears caput manager Ben Johnson said. "They conscionable ended up making much plays than us."

Purdy threw a prime six to T.J. Edwards connected the archetypal thrust of the game.

Luckily, Chicago wrapped up an NFC North rubric connected Saturday acknowledgment to the Green Bay Packers’ nonaccomplishment to the Baltimore Ravens. It’s the archetypal clip the Bears captured a part rubric since 2018. Chicago volition beryllium making its archetypal playoff quality since 2020 erstwhile they went 8-8.

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The Bears haven’t won a playoff crippled since the 2010 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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