After an up-and-down rookie season, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams saw great improvement in his second season, his first under head coach Ben Johnson.
Behind Johnson, Williams completed 330-of-568 passes for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Even so, Williams struggled in the postseason, completing 47-of-90 passes for 618 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
With expectations now higher for Williams, Johnson is embracing them. Still, not everyone agrees that this is a good idea.
Eric Mangini Says Ben Johnson May Be Putting Too Much Pressure on Bears QB Caleb Williams.
Former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini was asked about Caleb Williams’ progression and said he expects growth, but has concerns about Johnson’s recent comments regarding his goal for the Bears to become the best offense in NFL history.
“When Caleb came in, it was expectations, expectations… then he gets dramatically humbled in his rookie season, comes back this next year, and it’s different, so now he has success,” Mangini said. “He seems still relatively humble; there are elements of the old Caleb creeping back in, but now the head coach says we’re gonna be the greatest offense that’s ever played, we’re gonna score the most points that’s ever played, we’re gonna have blowouts, we’re gonna have shutouts.”
By “old Caleb,” Mangini is referring to Williams texting his punter, Tory Taylor, to say he wouldn’t be punting often, which is why Mangini sees Johnson’s words as an issue.
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That is why Mangini believes Johnson’s bold words could be an issue for Williams and the Bears.
“So now he’s (Johnson) upping the expectations and the pressure on Caleb, and I don’t think that’s necessarily a positive way to go, and it could hurt him,” Mangini explained.
“The head coach says we’re gonna be the greatest offense that’s ever played… So now he’s upping the expectations and the pressure on Caleb and I don’t think necessarily a positive way to go and it could hurt him.”
Coach Mangini shares his expectations for Caleb this year: pic.twitter.com/xchwjyGYOZ
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 14, 2026
Williams is already a legend in Bears fans’ minds after leading the team to a late-season 22-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers, followed by a 31-27 win over them in the first round of the playoffs after they rallied from a 21-6 fourth-quarter deficit, but he still has more to prove.
In the second-round matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, Williams again helped force overtime, but an interception in overtime set up the Rams’ game-winning field goal, so Williams still has work to do.
Williams earned a PFN QB Impact grade of 74.9, ranking 20th in the league last season. He has shown flashes of brilliance and the ability to stay cool under fourth-quarter pressure, but he still needs to improve his efficiency.
Williams still has plenty to learn and improve on, but at just 24 years old, he has plenty of time. Under Johnson, he appears headed down that path.
