The Chicago Bears have done everything they can to help Caleb Williams. They've stacked the roster with capable players at every offensive position, from wide receiver to the offensive line and tight ends. More importantly, they brought in one of the best offensive minds in the NFL when they hired Ben Johnson as head coach. No Bears quarterback has enjoyed a better structure around him in the modern era. Yet for the first seven games of 2025, the results have been mixed. Johnson has offered no outward signs that he's unhappy with Williams' progress.
Yet as we've seen, that doesn't always reflect the truth. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports generally has pretty good sources inside the league. He spoke on Insider Coverage about how frustration inside Halas Hall is building. Many feel Williams should've been further along in his development by now, yet he continues missing too many throws and isn't taking full advantage of better protection or scheming. Meanwhile, other quarterbacks from his draft class haven't had a problem playing well this season, particularly Drake Maye, who had a rough situation in New England last year.
SM sources confirmed the same about Caleb Williams.
In reality, this is something that has been building since the summer. Johnson didn't like his quarterback's lack of progress in training camp. The Bears head coach is a stickler for hitting the right pass at the right time. Caleb Williams, despite his individual talent, often turns down those opportunities. Apparently, this is why the Bears elected to extend Tyson Bagent. Remember, the backup signed his new two-year deal on August 20th, when camp was winding down. The timing felt somewhat odd. One would think they could've waited until later in the year. It seems Johnson made a strong push to ensure the Bears locked Bagent up as insurance in case things with Williams didn't progress.
Does this mean the Bears are already looking for an exit? No. They remain committed to giving Williams every opportunity to keep growing. However, they need to see progress at some point. This Sunday in Cincinnati against a league-worst Bengals defense should be one such moment. If that team manages to keep Williams in check, that could result in some difficult conversations moving forward.
