Williams: Johnson brings experience, energy to Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been thrilled with the relationship that he's built with head coach Ben Johnson and the entire coaching staff over the last few months.
"Ben Johnson is great, and it's not just Ben Johnson," Williams said at Fanatics Fest, according to Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media. "We have a young staff slash old staff, we have a bunch of experience, a bunch of new energy provided by the coaches and players.
"I think it's been awesome. Ben Johnson, he uses some choice words every day toward me. He's tough, and I love him. He's awesome. It's great being around him."
Johnson was hired this past January after the team fired Matt Eberflus during the 2024 season. Chicago finished 5-12 last year and struggled on the offensive side of the ball with Williams under center. The Bears finished 26th in EPA/play and 30th in offensive success rate, and they failed to score 30-plus points in their final 11 games.
The 39-year-old Johnson spent the last three campaigns as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, and the team went 36-15 in 51 regular-season contests during his tenure. Detroit led the NFL in points per contest (33.2) and ranked second in yards per game (409.5) in 2024.
"We hang out in his office and we just have lunch sometimes, things like that," Williams said. "We're building this bond and relationship to be able to last a while.
"I know Bears fans, it's year after year typically, or every other year, where coaches and quarterbacks specifically are in and out and our goal is to be here for a while."
Williams was up and down in his rookie year, but he played alongside an offensive line that surrendered a league-high 68 sacks. General manager Ryan Poles bolstered the unit this offseason by adding Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Joe Thuney.
The 2024 first overall pick will also have new offensive weapons to work with after the Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III with their first two picks in this year's draft.