The Chicago Bears had an offseason objective to get quarterback Caleb Williams on the right track, and if it doesn't work it won't be due to a lack of effort. Head coach Ben Johnson is setting the tone in a way his predecessors simply could not, but time will tell if it sticks.
It's also possible that the Bears are much-improved this season, but they don't win a lot more games in a tough NFC North with three teams playoff teams from last year. Going from worst-to-first is plausible, but it won't be easy and they'll probably need some good fortune (or simply a correction of last year's fortune in close games?).
Ideally, Johnson and Williams will be long-term answers at the two most important spots in the Bears' football operation. And as Williams recently said at Fanatics Fest, that is the plan.
"I know Bears fans, it's year after year typically, or every other year, where coaches and quarterbacks specifically are in and out and our goal is to be here for a while", Williams said.
Case against the Bears winning the NFC North this year shows patience will be a virtue
Kevin Patra of NFL.com recently recently outlined a case for and against each team in the NFC North winning the division this year. His case against the Bears winning the division started with Johnson being a first-time head coach.
"What if Johnson was simply a good play-caller but fails in the big chair? We've seen successful offensive coordinators struggle with the transition in the past -- Josh McDaniels, Cam Cameron, Adam Gase, Marty Mornhinweg. Thus far, Johnson has said and done all the right things, but there is always a chance things could crumble in the crucible of the season. What if Williams struggles out of the gate and Johnson can't reel things in? What if injuries strike, and he doesn't have answers? Being the play-caller can help alleviate some of those concerns, but it's not as if Johnson has proven himself to be a wizard in multiple stops."
Like any coordinator who is a head coach for the first time, Johnson has to prove he can handle overseeing the entire operation and he's not just a good play-caller. Time will tell if he is up to the task, or if he'll go down the path of the coaches Patra mentioned (and plenty of others).
After very briefly mentioning questions about the Bears' defense, Patra circled back to the other critical thing that may not go quite as planned this year.
"The Caleb (Williams) question is another significant piece of the puzzle. While I anticipate Johnson's arrival being the best antidote for what ills the young passer, it's possible he never becomes that franchise-changer. What if the Chicago curse is real? It might take more than nine months under Johnson to get things in gear. If Williams struggles and the offense sinks, the Bears won't have a shot to climb the NFC North ladder."
Williams has a lot of pressure on him this year. That said, failure to reach the high expectations being set for him in his second season won't necessarily mean he can't become the "franchise-changer" the Bears have long-sought under center. And any hiccups Johnson might have in his first season as a head coach won't immediately put him on the same career track as Josh McDaniels, Adam Gase, etc.
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The Bears may or may not make a real run at winning the NFC North this year. But if they don't, it won't be the definitive word on Johnson as a head coach or Williams becoming a franchise quarterback. This year, more than anything, is about setting the foundation for the kind of sustainable success that has eluded the Bears for a long time.