If the 2025 Chicago Bears season showed fans anything, it's that the combination of head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams is going to be a dangerous one for a long time.
There were some concerns at the beginning with Johnson coaching Williams hard, and the franchise quarterback not thinking his head coach liked him. All that tough love coach really paid off as the Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North, and won their first playoff game in 15 years after beating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card after being down by 18 points at halftime.
With time to reflect on the season and all their accomplishments, there are no more doubts that Williams is the guy and can be for years. Johnson made sure the media knew where he stands on Williams being the quarterback of the Bears in 2026 and beyond.
"I’m Caleb Williams’ No. 1 believer," Johnson said via 670 The Score's Chris Emma.
Ben Johnson believes in Caleb Williams being the Bears' franchise quarterback
There's no reason to even think that Williams can't be the guy, as he did all the right things as the starting quarterback for the Bears in 2025. He finished the year with a franchise-record 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions, adding another 388 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 17 games.
Yes, there is no doubt that Williams has to improve his accuracy, as it has regressed from 2024 to 2025, when he went from 62.5% to 58.1%. There is a combination of the receivers needing to catch the ball more, which is a focus this offseason for Johnson and the Bears, and Williams needing to place the ball in the right spots.
With that being said, Williams is on pace to set a historical record in the interception department, with 13 in 34 career games, for a 1.2% interception rate. That is in line to be one of the best percentages in NFL history.
What has helped Williams this season is the improvement on the offensive line, with four new starters. That helped lead to a top-five rushing attack and Williams being sacked just 24 times after being sacked 68 times in his rookie season.
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Everyone can see that Williams is going to be an elite NFL quarterback after leading an NFL-record seven comeback and game-winning drives this past season. If he can keep developing in the right direction, this Bears team could land a Super Bowl victory during his time as the guy.