How Bears' Caleb Williams has already 'grown' working with Ben Johnson

The Chicago Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach this past winter after Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams endured more lows than highs during his rookie season. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Williams suggested he'll be a more prepared QB1 when Chicago opens the upcoming campaign with a home game against the rival Minnesota Vikings this coming Monday night. 

How Caleb Williams has changed while working with Ben Johnson

"[My] knowledge of football and NFL football has grown, even just sitting in some of the meetings this year and even today and going through our first game week and just understanding things I may not have understood last year," Williams explained, as shared by Larry Mayer of the Bears' website. "Whether that's defenses, whether it's offenses, I think I've taken a step there. I have to keep taking those steps throughout this year and many years from now. But Ben, he's been great for me. He's pushed me. Like I've said many times, he's a teacher and he will be persistent until you get it."

The in-season firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus last fall did Williams no favors and didn't prevent what was a 4-2 team from experiencing a 10-game losing streak. Williams took a league-high 68 sacks as a rookie, and Pro Football Reference shows he ended last season ranked 31st in the league among qualified players with a 43.3 adjusted QBR. 

Those running the Bears likely hoped Williams would look like a legitimate franchise quarterback months after the club made him the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, No. 2 overall selection Jayden Daniels guided the Washington Commanders to the 2024 NFC Championship Game. 

Williams reportedly had an up-and-down summer while learning Johnson's offense. That said, it sounds like the 23-year-old will feel quite comfortable when he takes his first meaningful snap at Soldier Field on Monday evening. 

Caleb Williams has "utmost confidence" in new leadership

"I've got the utmost confidence in Ben, in his coaching ability, his play-calling and all of that," Williams added during his comments. "It comes down to being able to execute exactly what he puts out there for us as a team, as an offense. Throughout the week when we're messing up —which is going to happen — we have to get back in the huddle, redo it, so that when it happens on game day, we go out there and execute exactly what he dishes out for us."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Bears as 1.5-point betting underdogs against the Vikings. Starting the season off with a win in front of a prime-time national television audience could serve as a reset for Williams following all that has occurred since the opening night of the 2024 draft.