The Chicago Bears have plenty of proving to do before the wider NFL takes them seriously. This team hasn't posted a winning record since 2018. While that isn't anywhere close to the longest stretch in franchise history, it is long enough for people to consider them irrelevant. GM Ryan Poles has worked tirelessly for three years to retool the roster from the ground up. He appears to have at least made it credible in that time. They have standout names on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to avoid another ugly season at 5-12. More moves were made this past March and April to fortify key areas. However, everybody knows the true reality. This season hinges on the new partnership of Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.
Williams is the former #1 overall pick from last year. Everybody agrees he has the talent of a true franchise quarterback. What he didn't have last year was good coaching. One could argue it wasn't even below average. That is why the Bears sold out to bring Johnson in from Detroit. They feel his highly respected offensive prowess makes him well-qualified for the task. What nobody knows is whether the two could develop a working relationship. Based on what Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog is hearing, that isn't a problem.
(1) I think we’re going to know a lot about the relationship between Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams in the early days of camp. Initial reports out of Halas Hall are EXTREMELY good; the two men are sporting a noticeable rapport around the building. But that rapport and $5 will get you a ride on the blue line to O’Hare. If the 2025 Chicago Bears are going to be playing in the tournament come early 2026, they can’t spend the entirety of summer working out the kinks. They need to look the part, quickly.
Ben Johnson is exactly who Caleb Williams needed (and wanted).
Throughout last season, the young quarterback made it evident that he wanted to be coached hard. He wanted that discipline. It was the only way he knew he could achieve the heights necessary for greatness. None of the Bears' coaching staff was willing to provide it. Shane Waldron was painfully passive, and Matt Eberflus refused to step in. Thomas Brown finally brought some edge to the situation, but by then, it was far too late.
Ben Johnson immediately set the tone this spring, jumping all over Williams and other players whenever they made errors. He's made it clear there is zero tolerance for dumb or lazy football. It isn't about being mean or some power trip. The head coach wants to win. To do that, he needs his players to execute mistake-free football. Williams might be the quarterback, but that doesn't earn him special treatment. He wouldn't have it any other way.
