Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams needed time to buy into HC Ben Johnson

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has had four different head coaches and five different offensive coordinators in his last three seasons of football.

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The 2022 Heisman Trophy-winner went to the Bears with the No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft, and it’s fair to say then-head coach Matt Eberflus didn’t put him in the best position to succeed.

By the end of last season, Chicago paired its rookie quarterback with offensive coordinators Shane Waldron, Thomas Brown (who would be promoted to interim head coach), and Chris Beatty.

Williams has shown a lot of development under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. After losing their first two games, the Bears have won 11 of their last 13, and have clinched a playoff spot before getting set to travel to play the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football.”

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams has the same goal as Ben Johnson

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During his news conference on Tuesday, Johnson explained how his relationship with Williams had evolved since the spring. Williams has grown to trust that Johnson is putting the second-year quarterback in the best position to succeed.

“I think it’s we both have the same goals,” Johnson said of Williams. “We both care deeply about this team. We care deeply about this city, and I care deeply about his success as well. He understands that now at this point, and you only get to that by spending a lot of time together, and that’s been what we’ve been focusing on…

“Every single day, we’re spending one-on-one time, quality time together, to where we can be very transparent with each other. And I think what, what I’ve grown to love about him and I hope he would echo the same thing. I think we were mentally very similar. We share a lot of the same competitive drive.”

Johnson took the job with the Bears in part because of the opportunity to coach a young quarterback like Williams. While he wasn’t sure exactly what kind of a player he was getting until the spring, Johnson said Williams’ passion to win football games was the foundation of their relationship.

“It’s hard to tell without knowing a guy, but you certainly respect the type of player that he’s always been,” Johnson said about learning how committed Williams was to the Bears. “He’s always been a guy that likes to compete and go out there, and he loves football.”

“And I think when you have common interests like that, I do think it brings people together.”

Williams has thrown for 3,400 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season. While he didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2025, there’s hope that the young quarterback will eventually get there.

In Year 2, Williams has Chicago in the postseason. On Sunday, the Bears can officially take the NFC North with a win over the 49ers. That’s big progress from where the team was last season, and before Williams was drafted.

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