The Chicago Bears are optimistic that Caleb Williams, the talented player chosen with last spring’s first overall pick in the NFL draft, will become the franchise quarterback they have lacked since Jay Cutler’s era. Unfortunately, Williams’ inaugural season in the NFL was far from ideal, prompting significant upheaval within the team that resulted in head coach Matt Eberflus being dismissed mid-season—the first occurrence of its kind in the organization’s history.
In light of these changes, the Bears are looking to former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, credited with enhancing the performance of Lions quarterback Jared Goff, to cultivate Williams into the star player the franchise needs. As Johnson steps into his new role, Williams reflected on the challenges faced under Eberflus last season, expressing that “How [Eberflus] handled it at that time, for that game, was one of the things that throughout the locker room people talked about and were annoyed by,” referring specifically to the Bears’ devastating Hail Mary loss against the Washington Commanders, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Williams conveyed his frustration with the previous season, emphasizing how the experience drives him to avoid a repeat of his rookie year.
“When I got home, I got in my bed, I just dropped a few tears,” he admitted. “I think those losses were pretty important for me and my growth,” he continued, stating, “To go on a losing streak, to be in this position and be at the helm of it, was definitely important for me. Just being able to see how I need to be when times are bad… I’m going to work my tail off to never be in that situation again.”
