Lions' Ben Johnson discusses Bears' Caleb Williams amid coaching rumors

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to be a top candidate for head-coach openings for the second straight offseason. Some are already linking him with a Chicago Bears team searching for somebody to get the best out of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Johnson was asked Thursday about Williams' skillset ahead of Sunday's game between the 12-2 Lions and 4-10 Bears in Chicago. 

"It’s been difficult to just sit down and study every throw, but plenty of crossover tape over the course of the year and there’s no question that this guy is talented," Johnson said about the first pick of this year's draft, Audacy's Will Burchfield shared. "I remember standing on the sideline last game (against the Bears) and you can hear the ball whistle by you. He’s got quite a fastball, has some creativity to him, can extend plays and is accurate down the field as well. ...I haven’t really dove in and can't tell you much more beyond that, but he’s been impressive from afar."

Williams has dealt with the in-season firings of both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus amid a debut pro campaign that largely fell apart after the Bears entered their Week 7 bye at 4-2. According to ESPN stats, Williams has taken a league-high 58 sacks this season. He began Friday ranked 26th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.2 adjusted QBR and tied for 23rd with an 87.7 passer rating. Over his first 14 games, he recorded 17 touchdown passes and five interceptions. 

As for Johnson, his asking price last winter may or may not have "spooked some teams" before he returned to the Lions for another season. On Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that Johnson would "want a team that’ll create alignment between the head coach and general manager" and "an owner who is willing to honestly identify his/her team’s weaknesses and address them aggressively" to leave Detroit in either January or early February. 

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Lions tied for second among the betting favorites at +475 odds to win Super Bowl LIX.

"I think there’s a burning desire in every man to find what he’s made out of, push the limits and see if he’s got what it takes," Johnson responded when asked if he wants to be a head coach at the highest level. "So, yeah, there’s a fire there. Now, when that time is, I don’t know when that’ll be, but there’s certainly a fire there." 

Johnson will get a good in-person look at Williams ahead of Christmas. Perhaps that experience will ultimately alter the futures of both men.