The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach this offseason, a move that fans have loved from the start. And maybe no one is more excited than quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams was the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Chicago hopes he can finally be the franchise quarterback the team has been chasing for decades. But the 2024 season didn’t go the way anyone hoped.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears Struggled in 2024 After Promising Start
The Bears actually started 2024 strong. They won four of their first six games and looked like they might compete in a tough NFC North.
But after their bye week, it all went downhill. Chicago lost 10 straight games before pulling out a last-second win over the Packers in Week 18. The team finished 5-12.
One of the worst moments came on national television. The Bears played the Detroit Lions on the road to begin Thanksgiving. Detroit led 16-0 at halftime, but injuries to the defense gave Chicago a shot.
The Bears made a big comeback and got within three points in the final minute. But the game ended in disaster. Williams took a sack with under 30 seconds left. Even though they had a timeout, the Bears didn’t use it.
Instead, the clock ran down to six seconds. Williams threw a deep pass to Rome Odunze, but it fell incomplete. Chicago lost 23-20.
That loss helped bring change to the team. Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired, and the Bears began a coaching search. It led them to Johnson, who was Detroit’s offensive coordinator during that same Thanksgiving game.
NFL Analyst Believes Williams’ Career Is Hanging in Balance of 2025
Many people are excited about the Williams–Johnson pairing. Johnson is known as one of the top offensive minds in football, and working with a talented quarterback like Williams has a lot of potential.
But not everyone sees it as a sure thing. One analyst says 2025 could be a make-or-break year. FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd said on “The Herd” that Williams already has his career on the line.
“Here’s why the Ben Johnson hire is very important. If Caleb Williams doesn’t look like a franchise quarterback by early October, then he’s not going to be,” Cowherd said. “They have a really nice offensive line now. They have really good offensive weapons. They may pick up a running back in the first round.”
“So they have a competent offensive coach who is cerebral. They’ll know within four to five games if Caleb Williams is the guy. It doesn’t take long.”
The Bears made big moves on the offensive line this offseason. They traded for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney and signed center Drew Dalman in free agency.
That new-look line should help protect Williams. He’ll also have talented weapons like Odunze at wide receiver. Johnson has a lot to work with. Whether this is truly a make-or-break year is up for debate—but there’s no question Williams has the tools around him to take a big step forward.