After a chaotic rookie season, which he takes accountability for, expectations are high for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams heading into his second season. The team's offseason was centered around getting him on the right track, so anything less than a big step this season will register as a disappointment.
The Bears opened training camp with some media availability on Tuesday, and head coach Ben Johnson set a particular statistical goal for Williams.
"I told him I would love for him this season to complete 70% of his balls," Johnson said. "So, you would like to think that over the course of practice that we're completing 70% or more, or that's hard to just magically arise in a game. It's a lofty goal, but it's one we're going to strive for. Because of that, we're going to use that as a benchmark and kind of work from there."
Williams was 31st among 36 qualifying quarterbacks in completion percentage last year (62.5 percent), for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Some quicker, simpler throws would be helpful to boost Williams' completion rate. He tied for the third-most deep pass attempts (20-plus yards downfield) in the league last year (75, according to Pro Football Focus), and completed just 20.
Only five quarterbacks completed 70 percent of their passes last season, including Jared Goff (72.4 percent), Johnson's quarterback when he was Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. One quarterback got to a 70 percent completion rate in 2023 (Jake Browning).
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During his own press conference on Tuesday, Williams echoed his head coach while adding some other personal goals he has in mind this season that will have a residual impact on the team.
"Obviously I have self goals, and that’s being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history,” Williams said. “That’s a goal of mine. Seventy percent completion helps the team, keeps us on the field, puts us in better positions, and then other than that just trying to go down and score the most points that we can with each drive that we have. That’s kinda my self goal and obviously, other than that, you gotta go win. That’s success for me, that’s success for the team."
This is not the first time Williams has discussed being the first Bears quarterback to top 4,000 passing yards in a season. Reaching that mark is far more common league-wide than it used to be, but even last season only six quarterbacks did it. Four quarterbacks, Goff, Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow and Geno Smith, completed 70 percent of their passes and topped 4,000 yards last year.
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Williams mentioning a 70 percent completion rate is a clear indicator he and Johnson have talked about that benchmark. It's also a sign they are on the same page with things that go beyond any particular stat. That kind of base-level synergy with his coaches was basically absent for Williams as a rookie, and it's a core part of why Johnson was hired.