While there is tons of hype surrounding the Chicago Bears this season as new head coach Ben Johnson comes in to help take quarterback Caleb Williams to the next level, things could just as easily blow up in this franchise's face.
Even if Williams improves upon what was already a solid rookie season, some fans might be upset if the Johnson era begins with another last place finish in the NFC North. Despite Williams' youth, the heat is already on for the former No. 1 overall pick.
Pro Football Focus listed Williams as their "make-or-break" player for the Bears in 2025, citing the fact that some fans might start getting restless if the upgrade from Matt Eberflus to Johnson doesn't produce the insane statistical barrage that many are expecting.
While everything related to the Bears this offseason seems to have been mostly positive, especially after they hired this cycle's marquee head coach candidate in Johnson, their success will ultimately be tied to Williams. If he fails to improve in that area, look for the pressure to really heat up around this coach/quarterback duo.
Bears QB Caleb Williams listed on PFF's make-or-break list
Williams did manage to throw for 20 touchdowns against six interceptions last season, all while setting the record for most consecutive passes without an INT by a rookie. This came with two clueless head coaches, three ineffective play-callers, and one of the worst offensive lines in the league.
Even with that individual success, there were plenty of occasions where his inability to consistently deliver the ball quickly managed to catch up to him. His penchant for taking bad sacks is the top problem that Johnson must fix if he wants to turn Williams into one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
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Luckily for Johnson, the roster around Williams is much better this year. Not only will he be able to throw to DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and No. 10 pick Colston Loveland, but the additions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson took this offensive line from terrible to above average overnight.
Williams' honeymoon phase is ending, as many other top picks in recent years have made the leap from good to great in their second season. Johnson is expected to help Williams reach that peak, and the entire Bears fan base is worried if this duo is going to live up to the hype.