The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson to be the franchise's next head coach so that he could work the same magic with the offense in the Windy City as he did during his tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.
In addition to bringing a new offensive scheme to the table, Bears GM Ryan Poles added several new faces to the roster via the draft and free agency that were brought in to help second-year quarterback Caleb Williams take the next step in his development.
With Chicago's first preseason game on the horizon, the Bears might not be done adding to their offensive attack just yet. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Chicago brought in one of the players who enjoyed great success in Johnson's first year calling the plays in Detroit, as he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns during the 2022 campaign with 17 scores.
Former Lions running back Jamaal Williams worked out today for the Chicago Bears.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 9, 2025
Chicago Bears Eyeing Veteran Free Agent RB Jamaal Williams
One of the areas where Chicago made no major changes during the offseason was at the running back position. This isn't due to a lack of effort, though. The Bears were one of many teams linked to former Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the rusher was off the board by the time Chicago was on the clock.
DeAndre Swift is the unquestioned starter in the backfield for the Bears entering this season. The pecking order behind him, though, likely won't be decided on until much later in training camp. With Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, and Travis Homer currently backing up Swift, Poles and Johnson clearly felt they needed to get their eyes on another potential option in the backfield, with Williams being near the top of their list of targets.
His past success under Johnson makes Williams a natural target as he is only two years removed from the 2022 season, when he rushed for 1,066 yards and an NFL-best 17 touchdowns in just nine starts. While he didn't come close to those types of numbers after signing with the New Orleans Saints, he only carried the ball 154 times over two seasons. So, theoretically, there is less wear and tear on his body than there would be on many other eight-year veterans at the position.
Williams being brought in for a workout does not guarantee that the franchise will ultimately offer him a contract. It makes sense for Chicago to get a look at as many veteran free agents as they can during this time of the offseason to ensure they're putting the best possible 53-man roster together before Week 1.
We'll find out soon enough whether Williams impressed enough during his workout to garner a contract offer from the Bears.