Inside how Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson is ‘smashing the easy button’ for Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams’ huge plays in the clutch and his mobility becoming a hallmark of the Chicago Bears‘ offense have been one of the most impressive storylines to emerge across the NFL this season.

Entering Sunday’s showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Williams is on pace to set a new franchise record for passing yards in a season, and already owns the Bears’ record for most comeback victories in a single season, following Sunday’s critical win over the Minnesota Vikings to vault Chicago into the NFC North lead.

In a lot of ways, the Bears are contending ahead of schedule, in head coach Ben Johnson’s first season, and the relationship between head coach and quarterback may be on the cusp of producing even more impressive results.

ESPN ranks Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson as NFL’s best hire

Over at ESPN, NFL analyst Ben Solak lists Ben Johnson as the No. 1 hire across the league from this past offseason, while pointing out just how quarterback-friendly an environment the first-year head coach has created for the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Johnson is smashing the easy buttons for Williams,” Solak writes of the Bears, for ESPN. “And Williams is more than holding up his end of the bargain. Week over week, the Bears’ operation becomes smoother. They’ve cut down the pre-snap penalties. Williams, who was missing in-breaking routes wildly to start the season, is pinning them onto his receivers’ numbers. Sure, issues remain — Bears receivers have 13 drops, and a few of those are the result of mistimed routes and throws between quarterback and pass catcher — but they are fewer and farther between.

“When Johnson’s scheme fails, Williams is there to color in the lines.Only Sam Darnold and Bo Nix have avoided sacks at a higher rate than Williams this season, and Williams is fifth in total scramble EPA. If the Bears can start connecting on more downfield shots when Williams enters creation mode, the final infinity stone will slide into place for this offense, and the passing game will roar to life. They’ve been so close the past couple of weeks. It seems like the snowball is about to start rolling down the mountain.”

Williams’ mobility have helped power him to 272 rushing yards and three rushing scores, already this season.

Johnson has been so impressed by Williams’ mobility, that he recently compared his star quarterback to Houdini.

If Johnson and Williams can continue to find concepts in the passing game that elevate his ability to thrive in the pocket and the Bears’ playmakers on the perimeter become an even bigger piece of the puzzle, Chicago has the look of a team primed to make some even more significant strides than the offense has already shown this season.

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