As soon as the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as their next head coach, the franchise’s momentum immediately started pointing up. But this is still the same franchise that is coming off of a 5-12 season and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2010.
Still, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Bears entering 2025. Johnson helped the Detroit Lions become one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. The idea of him bringing that brand of football to Chicago is tantalizing. If Caleb Williams lives up to his No. 1 pick potential, Johnson has a potent building block to work with. The franchise has done everything in their power to put Williams in a place to succeed entering his sophomore season.
But with massive hype also comes a whirlwind of expectations. The Bears have earned the all familiar ‘offseason champions,’ moniker for how they built their roster. But Adam Schefter of ESPN sent a worrying reminder to both Johnson and Williams of what they must accomplish in 2025.
“Think about the expectations that are on Caleb Williams compared to the way we are talking about Jayden Daniels. It’s night and day,” Schefter said. “You would never imagine that these two players were one pick apart in the draft. That is where Ben Johnson, the new head coach comes in. That is what the Bears are banking on.”
“I know they went out and added three offensive lineman and another tight end and another wide receiver. But really, this comes down to whether Ben Johnson can make Caleb Williams the quarterback the Bears thought they were getting when they drafted him No. 1 overall, one slot before Washington took Jayden Daniels.”
“You bring in the quarterback guru, the man who has helped grow Jared Goff, who has been a wizard wherever he has been, who can help Caleb Williams take that next step to be the quarterback they thought they were getting,” Schefter concluded. “If they can, then who knows if nine wins is the limit. Anything is possible if Ben Johnson can make Caleb Williams the quarterback the Bears think he is.”
.@AdamSchefter puts the pressure on Bears HC Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams this season 😅
"Think about the expectations that are on Caleb Williams compared to the way we are talking about Jayden Daniels. It's night and day." pic.twitter.com/6idvSfxCYn
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 13, 2025
Chicago Bears banking on Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams pairing
The Bears were aggressive in bolstering their offense during the offseason. They traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson before signing center Drew Dalman. Then they took tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden. All of these moves are an effort to help Williams reach his ceiling. But the most important aspect will be the quarterback’s connection with his new head coach.
During Williams’ rookie season, Chicago fired offensive coordinator and then head coach Matt Eberflus midway through the season. With so much chaos going on, it was difficult for Williams to truly find his footing. Outside of his offensive acumen, having a leader like Johnson in place gives the quarterback a mentor he can lean on.
His play calling will be an obvious factor in Williams’ growth. Johnson helped Jared Goff finish second in passing in 2024, throwing for 4,629 yards. His 37 touchdowns ranked 37th. While Williams won’t be a one-for-one recreation of Goff, Johnson has at least proven he can help a former No. 1 overall pick find their ceiling.
With the Bears playing in 2025’s first Monday Night Football matchup to open the season, the entire NFL world will be watching Williams and Johnson’s debut together. If it goes how Chicago is planning, those fans will be getting a much different, and brighter look of the Bears.
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