After bringing in an innovative, offensive-minded coach with an exciting new playbook, the Chicago Bears are counting on their former first-round pick to not only step up… but take a big step forward in 2025
Caleb Williams’ journey in the NFL seems to have constantly been evolving. The first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the former Heisman Trophy winner was brought in by the Chicago Bears to be the savior of the franchise. While he performed admirably in his first season, the team saw little success. They finished last in the powerhouse NFC North with a 5-12 record.
However, there’s a lot of reason for optimism in The Windy City heading into a new year and a potentially epic era. Ben Johnson, the offensive guru behind the Detroit Lions’ prodigious point-scoring, will be stalking the sidelines for Da Bears in 2025. With him comes the promise that he’s the play-caller who can take the team’s passing prodigy to the playoffs and the promised land.
Wiliams, a multi-talented QB who can beat you with the pass or the run, put up decent numbers on a team that seemed doomed from the first snap. Former coach Matt Eberflus never had a handle on the situation in The Second City, which led to his dismissal after posting a paltry 14-32 during his short tenure with the Bears.
In the meantime, Williams threw for 3,541 yards, with 20 touchdowns and six touchdowns in his initial campaign. He had limited weaponry around him on offense (a problem the team is sure to remedy during the offseason through free agency and the draft). That’s why many fans, pundits, and observers feel like his second season in Chi-Town could be a huge leap forward.
Part of those expectations lie with new Head Coach Ben Johnson, who the Bears grabbed away from division-rival Detroit. Considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the game today, he made no secret that part of his decision to take the reins in Chicago was the opportunity to work with one of the most gifted young signal callers in the NFL.
“Modern football in the NFL is quarterback-driven, that is no secret,” Johnson said during his introductory press conference. “You can look at analytics, right now, quarterback success is a higher predictor of winning or losing than turnover ratio. There’s no doubt that Caleb played a long component into my decision. He is a phenomenal talent – that had as many quarterbacks do – an up-and-down rookie year.”
As far as Caleb Williams is concerned, the signing of Ben Johnson is a blessing He has repeatedly stated that he can’t wait to work with his new coach and sees their partnership as a chance to build a contender in Chicago – as soon as next year. While it may take a little longer than that, there’s no doubt that there’s more excitement surrounding Bears football than there’s been in several years. Williams is sharing in that enthusiasm.
“I gave out a loud yell and scream of just excitement,” Williams said when he originally heard about the hiring. “[It] brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason. It brings a bunch of different things to the offseason. And I’m really excited about obviously the Bears and being able to make this happen, and keeping Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time.”
“We hopped on the phone, and we shared the same excitement for him being the coach here and us to be able to grow and go on this journey together. He has a sense of fire. You can see it in him, which, I would say I have a very similar fire. He has that competitiveness and a sense of no-nonsense.”
In the coming months, NFL fans will want to stay tuned to this pairing. We may be witnessing the genesis of something great in Chicago, with Caleb Williams emerging as one of the most lethal weapons on the gridiron. Johnson helped revive the career of Lions Quarterback Jared Goff. With due respect to the Detroit passer, Williams has a much more physical ability and a bigger upside. He just has to prove he can win.
Firstly, Johnson must cater his playbook to fit Wiliams’ smorgasbord of abilities. He threw out nearly everything imaginable as the Lions Offensive Coordinator, but now he will have the freedom and the quarterback to take that coaching style to the next level. It seems to be a perfect fit and one that could set off a whole lot of fireworks for years to come.
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