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Caleb Williams endured a trying first season with the Chicago Bears. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft posted solid numbers over the course of the season, but the Bears unraveled after a promising 4-2 start to the season.
Chicago looked poised to improve to 5-2 in its Week 7 tilt with the Washington Commanders before Jayden Daniels completed an improbable Hail Mary to give Washington the last-second victory. That kickstarted a 10-game Bears losing streak during which head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron were fired.
The turmoil in Chicago was magnified by Williams' struggles to adjust to the speed of play in the NFL and taking a league-high 68 sacks.
That said, Williams believes his and the team's hardships will help him improve ahead of his second NFL season.
"I'm super excited about it," Williams said of his sophomore campaign at Chicago's offseason workouts Tuesday. "Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year the way I did – ups and downs – and then to be able to come in here, be as confident as I was last year, possibly even more, and to be able to get here with the group that we have, I really can't wait to get to work with these guys."
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
Williams went on to praise the "talented group" of players Chicago has thus far assembled for the 2025 NFL season. He also detailed that one of the people with whom he is most excited to work is his new head coach, Ben Johnson.
Johnson joined the Bears after a three-year stint as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. He led Detroit to three consecutive top-five finishes in points and yards per game and is tasked with turning around a Chicago offense that ranked 26th in offensive EPA last season.
Williams made it clear that he wants and expects his new coach to challenge him as the 23-year-old looks to grow into a franchise quarterback
"Us growing together is key. Starting now. Him pushing me [is] key," Williams said of Johnson. "I know that, and he knows that."
Williams also knows his development in that role will be critical in the Bears' efforts to find success during the 2025 season and beyond.
"If you have that position right, it helps with a bunch of different things," Williams said, referencing the quarterback position. "Building that bond, [Johnson] pushing me and us growing together for years to come is going to be fun. I can't wait [for him] to be able to help me learn more about ball – because he's super smart, super sharp – and grow and progress in those ways."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Williams welcomes challenge from 'super sharp' Ben Johnson
Continue reading...
Chicago looked poised to improve to 5-2 in its Week 7 tilt with the Washington Commanders before Jayden Daniels completed an improbable Hail Mary to give Washington the last-second victory. That kickstarted a 10-game Bears losing streak during which head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron were fired.
The turmoil in Chicago was magnified by Williams' struggles to adjust to the speed of play in the NFL and taking a league-high 68 sacks.
That said, Williams believes his and the team's hardships will help him improve ahead of his second NFL season.
"I'm super excited about it," Williams said of his sophomore campaign at Chicago's offseason workouts Tuesday. "Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year the way I did – ups and downs – and then to be able to come in here, be as confident as I was last year, possibly even more, and to be able to get here with the group that we have, I really can't wait to get to work with these guys."
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
Williams went on to praise the "talented group" of players Chicago has thus far assembled for the 2025 NFL season. He also detailed that one of the people with whom he is most excited to work is his new head coach, Ben Johnson.
Johnson joined the Bears after a three-year stint as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. He led Detroit to three consecutive top-five finishes in points and yards per game and is tasked with turning around a Chicago offense that ranked 26th in offensive EPA last season.
Williams made it clear that he wants and expects his new coach to challenge him as the 23-year-old looks to grow into a franchise quarterback
"Us growing together is key. Starting now. Him pushing me [is] key," Williams said of Johnson. "I know that, and he knows that."
Williams also knows his development in that role will be critical in the Bears' efforts to find success during the 2025 season and beyond.
"If you have that position right, it helps with a bunch of different things," Williams said, referencing the quarterback position. "Building that bond, [Johnson] pushing me and us growing together for years to come is going to be fun. I can't wait [for him] to be able to help me learn more about ball – because he's super smart, super sharp – and grow and progress in those ways."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caleb Williams welcomes challenge from 'super sharp' Ben Johnson
Continue reading...
