Every Chicago Bears fan knows the kind of impact that head coach Ben Johnson and his coaching staff have had on the franchise just based on the results, but they don't truly understand what they gave up to win.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams appeared on Maxx Crosby's podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby," to discuss a range of topics, including Johnson and his staff when they first arrived. Williams made sure to give his flowers to the staff for their work.
"I cannot credit anyone but Ben Johnson and the staff. The control they had of the situation, the belief and the confidence they had in themselves, but also they sacrificed to get this thing going. Ben got hired and they went to work immediately and they went hours and got into it not seeing their families from the start. We're not talking about season. They in there day and night in the facility from the jump. Their families had to move and stuff so they weren't seeing their families from the jump."
Caleb Williams gives the coaching staff their respect for 2025
From the moment Johnson came to Chicago, Bears fans loved him, from his comments about beating Matt LaFleur twice a year to the culture shift he created in Year 1. From his tough coaching of Williams to implementing a new system, the Bears adjusted quickly and became one of the NFL's best teams.
In Johnson's first season in the Windy City, the Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North, and won their Wild Card game against the Green Bay Packers, coming back from 18 points down. Johnson was nominated for the AP Coach of the Year for his achievement in getting the team to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Williams made huge strides in his game last season because of what Johnson did for him. Johnson might have thrown a lot at Williams in 2025, but the young quarterback responded with a franchise record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdown passes to seven interceptions with three rushing scores to add to the stat line.
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The Bears aren't in a perfect spot, and Williams still has things to clean up as a quarterback, but this team is heading in the right direction because of the work Johnson and his staff did in their first year.