It is about time we start ramping up the offseason excitement, isn't it? After a short lull following the big free agency moves, trades and coaching staff renovation, the Chicago Bears are back and beginning their voluntary offseason program.
There have been significant changes within this organization, of course, and one of those who has to be the most excited is quarterback Caleb Williams. Coming off a tough rookie season with not a whole lot working in his favor, Williams now gets to work with one of the brightest offensive minds in football in new head coach Ben Johnson.
As the Bears kicked off their program this week, Williams and a few of his teammates took some time to address the media and answer some questions.
Caleb Williams is already being challenged by head coach Ben Johnson
Bears beat reporter Courtney Cronin was one of those in attendance, Tuesday, as Williams addressed the media, and she captured the quarterback's comments on his new head coach and how Day 1 of the offseason program went:
“Already the first day in, they’re challenging us," he said.
The second-year quarterback also talked about what he was working on, right away, so that come crunch time and those gritty fourth quarters, this is all second nature:
"Going through the cadence, going through the huddle sequence, practicing those things now so they're first habit, first nature."
Count this as early-April fodder and excitement if you will, but there is something to be said about the tone of Halas Hall seeming different this year. Johnson has come in and established a clear vision of what he wants out of this team and has wasted no time in pursuing those goals from Day 1.
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Going into Williams' rookie season, his former head coach didn't have as clear of a vision as Johnson has laid out. This is an excerpt taken from Matt Eberflus' comments in July of 2024 (three months after Williams was drafted):
"For me, it's just believing in Caleb, putting him in there and let's go. I think the expectation is for him to be the starter – he is the starter – when we drafted him, and that's where we put him in. Put him in the position to be that."
Eberflus had a flexible plan for Williams as a rookie, whereas Johnson's plan seems firm. However, Johnson's plan is tailored to Williams' strengths. There's a huge difference between the two coaches and how they've spoken about their franchise quarterback thus far, and players and fans notice.
Challenging Williams is good. And it appears as though he's getting those challenges early on.