The Chicago Bears are taking a significant step forward with quarterback Caleb Williams and newly appointed head coach Ben Johnson, a pairing that carries both high potential and inherent risks. Their goal is to revitalize an offense that has long struggled to find consistency and success.
At the NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, Johnson shared his approach to developing Williams into a top-tier quarterback. He emphasized a return to the basics, focusing on improving footwork, reinforcing consistent terminology, and enhancing defensive recognition. Johnson also noted that he intends to challenge Williams beyond his comfort zone, ensuring growth and adaptability.
“There’s a degree of Caleb being challenged a little bit more, I think,” Johnson said, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. “Outside of his comfort zone.”
Adjustments to Caleb Williams’ Play Style
One key area of development will be increasing Williams’ snaps from under center. Throughout his high school, college, and much of his rookie season, Williams primarily operated out of the shotgun formation. Johnson aims to shift that approach to enhance the running game and make play-action passes more effective.
“There are some things that we’re going to encourage that he looks to do a little bit differently,” Johnson said.
Williams’ transition to working more under center will be closely monitored, as Johnson believes it can help create bigger plays by keeping defenders off balance. Drawing from his previous coaching experiences, Johnson explained how under-center formations improved the running game and opened up play-action opportunities. However, he acknowledged that success in Chicago would depend on how well the system translates to the team’s strengths.
“He’s been predominantly a shotgun quarterback for most of his high school and college career, and so he’s very comfortable there,” Johnson noted. “We’re going to work to see the comfort level under center and how much of that applies. We had a lot of success where I was last year that going under center for the run game did translate in play action. Whether that works for us in Chicago, time will tell, right?”
Williams’ Rookie Performance and Areas for Growth
Williams showed promise in his rookie campaign, setting multiple franchise records, including most completions (351), passing attempts (562), passing yards (3,541), and passing touchdowns (20) by a Bears rookie quarterback. He also displayed strong decision-making, going 354 consecutive pass attempts without an interception—the longest streak ever for a rookie and the fourth-longest in NFL history.
However, despite his impressive ball security, Williams faced significant challenges. He was sacked 68 times, the third-highest single-season total in league history. While some of this was due to struggles along the offensive line, Williams also held onto the ball too long at times, leading to unnecessary pressure. Johnson and his coaching staff will work on improving Williams’ pre-snap recognition and processing speed to help him make quicker decisions under pressure.
Strengthening the Quarterback-Head Coach Relationship
Johnson stressed the importance of creating a shared vision between himself and Williams, ensuring that the playcaller and quarterback are aligned in their approach. He believes this dynamic will be crucial in helping Williams reach his full potential.
“You need to be able to see the game as a playcaller through the lens of the quarterback and vice versa,” Johnson said.
Another aspect working in Williams’ favor is his eagerness to learn and adapt. Johnson noted that Williams has been highly receptive to coaching and willing to absorb new information, which will be essential as he transitions into an offense with new expectations and responsibilities.
“Everything I’ve seen so far is that he has been a very coachable individual. He just wants to soak in knowledge,” Johnson said.
Despite the challenges, Williams’ ability to protect the football and his dual-threat capability—evidenced by 489 rushing yards last season—provide a strong foundation for growth. With an offensive-minded head coach guiding him, the hope is that Williams can take the next step in his development and lead Chicago’s offense to success.
If Johnson and Williams can establish a strong partnership, the Bears may finally have the stability at quarterback that has eluded them for years.