After a discombobulated rookie season in 2024, Caleb Williams needed a coach like Ben Johnson. In some ways, he had to be built from the ground up regarding all that's required to be a successful NFL quarterback.
Year 1 of the Johnson-Williams connection was successful, yet imperfect. Williams' low completion percentage was not helped by Bears' pass catchers struggling with drops, but his accuracy and lack of willingness to take easier, shorter completions when they were there were general issues too.
Williams has openly acknowledged how having a year under his belt in Johnson's offense will benefit him a lot. That general comfort level needs to transfer to how he plays, and yield the kind of full-game consistency Johnson is openly calling for.
Johnson is coaching his young quarterback hard, and Williams is responding. Just as the Bears envisioned when they hired Johnson. Getting the best out of Williams was the most important thing if the trajectory of the team had any chance to turn for the better and stay that way for a while.
Still-budding Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams connection should have the rest of the NFL on edge
As he pointed to one reason each NFL team shouldn't be overlooked this season, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report chose the "flourishing Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson connection" for the Bears.
"Ben Johnson lived up to the immense hype surrounding the Chicago Bears' decision to hire him as their head coach last year. The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator helped turn a team that went 5-12 the previous season into an 11-win playoff squad. While that was impressive, this group has the makings of one ready to take another sizable leap in 2026."
"Johnson's work with Caleb Williams was the driving force behind Chicago's success. The coach's system elevated the second-year quarterback to the cusp of stardom and could push him into the league's upper echelon this season. If young wideouts like Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III make their expected strides, the Bears could even boast the league's top offense."
"Considering the Bears won a playoff game and nearly reached the NFC Championship in Year 1 of the Johnson-Williams era, another full offseason to fine tune the scheming and open up more of the playbook will have remarkable results."
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Combined the 40-year old Johnson's ever-evolving offensive mind with the 24-year old Williams' raw talent, and you get a head coach-quarterback marriage that's only getting started. The Bears haven't had something like that in...well, they've never really had it, and the rest of the league is on notice heading in the duo's second season together .
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