Ben Johnson isn’t too concerned about Caleb Williams’ past issues with the Bears.
The new head coach of the Chicago Bears spoke with Colin Cowherd on Thursday about the upcoming season and the uncertainties surrounding his second-year quarterback. “I see a big opportunity for him to excel here,” Johnson mentioned. “He’s open in our discussions and seems to share that sentiment. I can’t speak to what happened before my time with the organization, but he’s clearly proud to be a Chicago Bear, and our talks reflect that.”
He added, “He’s now focused on his work and genuinely excited about becoming his best self by 2025.”
These remarks came just hours after Williams’ father, Carl, stated that he believed, “Chicago is where the quarterback dies.” This was mentioned in Seth Wickersham’s book, “The Biography of a Quarterback,” and it was revealed that he was not keen on his son being drafted by the Bears.
Wickersham’s book indicates that Carl went to great lengths to prevent his son from becoming a Bear. “I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,” he reportedly told several agents back in 2024.
Despite this, Johnson, who previously excelled as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, seems unaffected.
“I think this is a fantastic chance to achieve something unprecedented,” Johnson commented on Cowherd’s show, suggesting that Caleb could become the first quarterback in Bears history to pass for over 4,000 yards.
Johnson is ushering in a new era for the Bears and for Williams, especially after Wickersham reported that Williams had concerns about playing under former head coach Matt Evals and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. “Do I really want to go there? I’m not sure I can do that,” Williams pondered aloud about Waldron.
Both coaches were let go during Williams’ rookie season. The Bears are aiming to improve after finishing with a 5-12 record during Williams’ sophomore year and missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season in 2024.
