The biggest reason the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson was to help with starting quarterback Caleb Williams' development in year two. That appears to be already working out well so far.
Throughout OTAs and minicamp, Johnson has been working closely with Williams to coach him on the mechanical aspects of the quarterback position. This week at OTAs, Williams voluntarily showed up to work with the rookies. Johnson was seen coaching Williams hard, but Johnson was happy with the progress being made.
There is still plenty to work on as Williams enters training camp, but OTAs have shown that he is taking a step in the right direction for the 2025 season.
Williams named a winner after OTAs
Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport named his winners and losers from OTAs. Davenport singled out Williams as a winner after his work ethic of being at the facilities.
"The Chicago Bears have already wrapped up mandatory minicamp. But whether workouts have been voluntary or mandatory, at least one prominent Bears player has been a constant at the team’s facility—second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
Talent was never the question with Williams, as he's always had the ability to improvise and make accurate throws off-platform. Williams’ rookie struggles were more a matter of sometimes trying to do too much—and getting sacked or making a poor decision as a result.
If Williams can come close to matching his physical talents and mental understanding of the game, then a Bears team that focused its entire offseason on improving around him could be a real factor in the NFC North."
It was an up-and-down rookie season for Williams as he finished with 20 touchdowns to six interceptions. He showed glimpses of greatness and was a big part of how the team stayed in games despite poor pass protection and a lack of a running game.
The downside was the number of hits he took in the pocket, with 68 sacks allowed. Part of that was due to the offensive line, but the other half was Williams struggling to make quick decisions and panicking too soon when the protection broke down.
Read more: FOX Sports wasn't shy about slamming Caleb Williams low on QB rankings
Another concern was the number of fumbles he had last year, with 10. It was a combination of again, hits he took in the pocket, but also needing to have situational awareness to protect the football.
Williams can become an elite quarterback, with his arm talent being off the charts. He's got the talent around him and the right coaching staff to help him make a giant leap in 2025.