Caleb Williams was driving on the interstate in Florida when the facility gamers of the Bears’ group referred to as to inform him they’d employed Ben Johnson as his new coach, and he couldn’t comprise the joys.
“I don’t know if it was protected or not, however I gave out a loud yell and scream,” Williams mentioned. “Brings a bunch of readability to the offseason. It brings a bunch of various issues to the offseason.”
This wasn’t a prank like when children tricked Williams final week by texting him as Johnson. This was the true factor — Johnson verified it by calling on FaceTime — and it may very well be precisely what he must relaunch his profession.
Williams and Johnson may be simply what one another wants, actually.
Johnson took the job primarily due to his perception in Williams’ potential, and the Bears selected Johnson primarily due to their perception that he may also help him attain it. It’s their finest shot at rising from the wreckage of the Matt Eberflus period.
Williams described Johnson as a “fascinating” play caller as Lions offensive coordinator and was enthusiastic sufficient to fly in for his introductory information convention. He had a front-row seat as Johnson acknowledged, “There’s little doubt Caleb performed a big element in my determination,” after years of being extremely selective whereas looking for a super state of affairs.
If Williams appreciated listening to that, he liked what got here subsequent.
Johnson came up under a blend of influences, together with former Bears offensive coordinators John Shoop, Mike Martz and Adam Gase, and intends to make use of these parts to create an offense custom-made for Williams.
“This offense will likely be calibrated with him in thoughts,” Johnson mentioned. “This isn’t merely dropping a earlier playbook down on the desk. Nope. We’re ripping this factor right down to the studs and we’re going to construct it out with him at first.
“I actually stay up for difficult him and pushing him to proceed to develop and develop.”
Williams was the No. 1 choose final yr and had an up-and-down rookie season as he completed twenty fourth in passer ranking (87.8) and seventeenth in yardage (3,541) whereas throwing 20 landing passes and 6 interceptions. In the meantime, fellow first-round picks Jayden Daniels of the Commanders and Bo Nix of the Broncos flourished below glorious teaching and bought to the playoffs.
Daniels truly expedited the Bears’ hiring of Johnson by bouncing his Lions from the playoffs Saturday and might attain the Tremendous Bowl by beating the Eagles within the NFC title recreation.
However whereas Daniels had Kliff Kingsbury and Nix had Sean Payton, the Bears entrusted Williams to an incompetent crew led by Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron — each of whom they fired in November.
At a time when the Bears tried to get every little thing proper, they bought an enormous half horribly incorrect.
However bringing Johnson in reignites their expectations for Williams, and Williams is keen to be coached correctly.
“He’s going to construct round me, however he’s going to check me,” Williams mentioned. “He’s going to problem me within the offseason and to [master] what works within the NFL and issues he might want me to get higher at.”
Normal supervisor Ryan Poles believed he discovered the correct coach to show Williams “to be an expert soccer participant, to do the little issues the correct approach” in a approach the earlier workers failed to take action. He added that Johnson will begin by establishing “that basis” and construct from there so Williams “can proceed to get higher and play extra persistently.”
All the pieces appears to be lining up. Previously yr, the Bears landed the quarterback everybody needed and the coach everybody needed. It’s nearly excellent.
“Now all we’ve got to do is what all people needs, and that’s win,” chairman George McCaskey mentioned.
Nothing’s ever assured, however pairing an ultra-talented quarterback and coach collectively is a good begin.
