Caleb Williams and the 2025 Chicago Bears: A Franchise Reborn Under Ben Johnson’s Leadership

Through 12 weeks of the 2025 NFL season, the Chicago Bears find themselves in a position few could have predicted even three months ago. A franchise long defined by offensive instability, quarterback turnover, and recurring disappointment has surged to the top of the NFC North behind the rapidly improving play of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and the structural leadership of new head coach Ben Johnson.

After a turbulent rookie season marked by inconsistency, organizational upheaval and historically high sack totals, Williams has emerged as one of the league’s most intriguing young quarterbacks. Chicago’s offense—long one of the least efficient groups in the NFL—has transformed into a unit capable of explosive plays, sustained drives and late-game composure. The turnaround represents not only a significant development for the club but also a potential franchise-altering shift at the sport’s most important position.

A Difficult Rookie Campaign

Williams entered the NFL with “generational” expectations following an illustrious college career at USC, highlighted by 4,537 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and a Heisman Trophy in 2022. His ability to throw accurately from multiple platforms, extend plays and improvise under pressure drew comparisons—fair or not—to Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes.

But his rookie season with Chicago fell short of those lofty projections. Williams was sacked 68 times, tied for the third-highest total in NFL history. His tendency to hold the ball too long—an issue that scouts had flagged—combined with one of the league’s weakest offensive lines created a difficult learning environment. Chicago ultimately dismissed both head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron following another losing season.

Despite the turmoil, Williams produced respectable numbers: 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, six interceptions and 489 rushing yards. However, the Bears’ lack of stability, combined with an offense that failed to support his strengths, contributed to an uneven introduction to NFL football.

The Ben Johnson Effect

The Bears’ decision to hire Ben Johnson, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds, marked a turning point. Johnson had been a leading candidate for numerous vacancies and was considered the most coveted coach on the market. His decision to choose Chicago—long overshadowed in the NFC North—signaled belief in Williams’ potential.

Johnson’s arrival reshaped the Bears’ offensive structure. The playbook, notably more complex than the one Williams operated under as a rookie, required significant adjustment. Timing, rhythm, spacing, and structured playmaking—areas where Williams needed improvement—became central to the offense. For Williams, the learning curve was steep, but the early progress was encouraging.

His first drive of the season generated widespread attention: a perfect passing sequence followed by a scrambling touchdown, suggesting immediate growth in decision-making and pocket discipline. Analysts praised the professionalism and detail reflected in the series. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning remarked during the “ManningCast” broadcast that Williams appeared “far more comfortable” and that Chicago’s coaching approach had clearly elevated his fundamentals.

The early optimism, however, was tempered by consecutive losses to Minnesota and Detroit to open the year. National analysts began speculating on whether Williams might ultimately be the weakest quarterback of the 2024 draft class—a class that included early standouts such as Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy. Those concerns faded quickly as Chicago’s offense improved each week following a Week 4 bye.

A Midseason Surge

Since falling to Detroit in Week 2, Chicago has been one of the league’s most consistent winners. The Bears won six of seven games entering Thanksgiving with an 8–3 record, their best start since 2018 and good enough to lead the NFC North.

A revived running game has played a central role in the resurgence. Chicago averaged 142.3 rushing yards per game—second-best in the NFL—through Week 11, allowing Williams to operate more comfortably and preventing defenses from overloading coverage schemes.

Williams contributed to the rushing attack in ways he did not as a rookie. After failing to record a single rushing touchdown last year, he has already scored three, including a pivotal game-winner against the Giants in which he outran multiple defenders for a 20-yard score. His acceleration and ability to reach the sideline have added a dimension that opposing defenses must account for on every snap.

Growth as a Passer

The most significant development this season has been Williams’ improvement in structured passing situations. Whereas his rookie tape was dominated by improvisation, extended plays and hero-ball tendencies, his 2025 film shows an increased willingness to operate within the design of the offense.

Former MVP quarterback Kurt Warner noted that Williams’ evolution reflects a commitment to “playing the play in front of him,” rather than defaulting to off-script creativity. Johnson has emphasized timing-based mechanics, quick-trigger decision-making and reliance on primary reads.

The results are evident. Through 11 games, Williams accumulated 2,568 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions—one of the lowest interception totals among starting quarterbacks this season. His sack rate has also dropped dramatically, attributable both to improved blocking and quicker internal processing.

Chicago’s Week 12 victory over Pittsburgh served as a microcosm of Williams’ progress. Facing a defense that had dismantled the Cincinnati Bengals the previous week, Williams threw for 239 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, posting one of the highest passer ratings of his career. He repeatedly beat pressure with timing throws, hitting his back foot and releasing in rhythm.

It marked his third game this year with a passer rating above 100 and reinforced his growth as a quarterback capable of dissecting complex defensive looks.

A Measured View of Progress

Despite the dramatic turnaround, coaches and analysts caution that Williams remains in the early stages of development. Johnson’s system requires precision and adaptability, and while Williams has shown signs of mastery, the process is ongoing.

Comparisons to other young quarterbacks offer perspective. Josh Allen completed under 60% of his passes in his second season before evolving into an MVP candidate. Many of the NFL’s most successful quarterbacks—Mahomes excluded—required multiple seasons before reaching full command of their offenses.

Williams’ improvement in decision-making and his reduction in negative plays highlight significant progress. His blend of rushing ability and arm talent has positioned him as one of the league’s most dynamic young dual-threat quarterbacks.

A New Identity for Chicago

The 2025 Bears have already surpassed their preseason projected win total. The locker room has regained confidence, the offense has reestablished rhythm and Chicago has demonstrated resilience in tight games—attributes largely absent in previous years.

While questions remain—particularly regarding whether Chicago’s early-season success can be sustained against elite NFC competition—the trajectory appears unmistakably positive. Williams’ improvement and Johnson’s scheme have provided the Bears with their most stable quarterback-head coach pairing in decades.

For a franchise defined historically by defensive dominance and offensive uncertainty, the current shift is significant. For the first time in years, Chicago appears to have a long-term answer at quarterback and a coaching staff capable of maximizing his talents.

Outlook

As Chicago enters the final stretch of the regular season, the Bears’ fate hinges not only on sustaining their offensive efficiency but also on Williams’ continued development. His combination of arm talent, mobility and emerging structure-based discipline suggests a ceiling that could place him among the NFL’s elite in future seasons.

Whether he reaches that ceiling will depend largely on how he continues to adapt to Johnson’s system and how the franchise builds around him. For now, however, Williams has delivered the most convincing evidence yet that he can be the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.