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ESPN's Adam Schefter reveals key to Chicago Bears' 2025 season

Originally posted on Chicago Bears on SI | By Bryan Perez | Last updated May 14, 2025 11:06 AM ET

The Chicago Bears' 2025 offseason has been graded by most NFL analysts as a resounding success. How could it not be? Ben Johnson is the new head coach, and he'll be the mastermind calling plays for quarterback Caleb Williams, a generational prospect, who finally has an offensive line that can keep him upright.

Johnson and Williams also have a bevvy of new playmakers to target via the 2025 NFL Draft -- Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III will have their fair share of highlights this season.

The Bears' defense received reinforcements, too. Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett were big-ticket free agency signings, and Shemar Turner, a second-round pick, will make an impact with a significant rotational role.

But every massive offseason move the Chicago Bears made will mean nothing if Williams fails to live up to his pre-draft hype. In fact, Williams' development under Johnson's tutelage is the only thing that matters in 2025, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

.@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

Pressure is on Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in 2025

Schefter noted that the difference between the expectations around Williams, compared to his 2024 draft classmate Jayden Daniels, is night and day. The Washington Commanders are considered a Super Bowl contender with Daniels behind center, while the narrative around Williams' second season is all about developing into the quarterback the Bears think he is under Johnson's watch.

Let's face it, the only reason why there's such a large gap between the expectations for Daniels and those for Williams is because of recency bias. Daniels left an MVP-lite impression on the NFL after a phenomenal rookie season, but for as special as Daniels was last year, the Commanders are a team that could experience some regression in 2025. Eight of Washington's 12 wins were one-score games, a stat that can easily flip against them this season.

The Chicago Bears, meanwhile, were victimized by horrendous coaching decisions that directly led to several losses, including Week 8's game against the Commanders when Williams outdueled Daniels until the ridiculously flukey Fail Mary crushed the Bears' soul at the end of the game.

Sure, Williams must step up his game in 2025, and there's no reason to think he won't now that he has an elite supporting cast around him.

This article first appeared on Chicago Bears on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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