The Chicago Bears have high expectations this season, and they will go as far as quarterback Caleb Williams will take them. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft had plenty of hype heading into his rookie season, but expectations weren’t met as the Bears suffered a 10-game losing streak after a 4-2 start and finished with a 5-12 record.
The Bears have everything to ensure that Williams will be successful in his second season, poaching former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become their new head coach. But while Williams has plenty of resources, he’s gotten off to a slow start to camp as he and his teammates learn a new system.
These struggles aren’t uncommon for a quarterback coming into his own. But a nightmare report from a Bears beat writer suggests there’s more than typical growing pains, and they could affect whether Williams reaches his ceiling in 2025.
Caleb Williams’ Maturity Comes Under Fire Again After Recent Bears Report
The Chicago Tribune’s Dan Wiederer shed some light on Williams’s situation during an appearance on 670 The Score on Thursday morning and suggested the franchise signal caller has some maturing to do as he enters his second training camp.
“I would say there is a push to make sure on a daily basis that he understands the commitment level that is required to reach the heights that both he and the team are trying to get to,” Wiederer said. “I think that’s a maturity process for a young quarterback, and it’s one that they are pushing Caleb to understand as quickly as possible, that you better understand when you go home from this building at night, that your first responsibility is preparing for the next day and understanding what’s coming from you the next day and being ready for what’s coming the next day and being in your playbook and getting all those little things down.”
Are there any underlying concerns about Caleb Williams' preparation? @danwiederer weighs in.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 24, 2025
"I would say there is a push to make sure on a daily basis that he understands the commitment level that is required to reach the heights that he and the team are trying to get to." pic.twitter.com/TYipwxPItM
If there’s one thing that Bears fans can lean on with Williams, it’s his natural talent. The 23-year-old was one of the most heralded quarterback prospects in recent memory after winning the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2022 and throwing for 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions during his three-year collegiate career with the Trojans and Oklahoma.
Even Williams’s rookie season looked fine statistically, throwing for 3,541 yards while throwing for 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. But it was what happened off the field that kept Williams and the Bears from reaching their goals.
Part of it was on former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus. There was another chunk of blame dished out to an offensive line that allowed Williams to be sacked an NFL-high 68 times. Those problems have been fixed with the hiring of Johnson and the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman in the trenches, but it means nothing if Williams isn’t putting in the work off the field to be successful.
That’s already shown up in camp as Williams has had trouble getting the Bears lined up properly and tossed back-to-back interceptions in Friday’s practice, according to Zack Pearson of 247Sports.
Bad 7 on 7 drill in the red zone. Caleb Williams picked off on back to back plays.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 25, 2025
First one at goal line to DJ Moore was picked off by Jaquan Brisker. Looked like ball was tipped or batted in air. Believe Terell Smith in coverage.
Next play was a bad throw and decision as TJ…
These things can be ironed out quickly, and if Williams puts in the time, he can be successful under Johnson, who coaxed success out of fellow No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff in Detroit. But if Williams can’t grasp the demands of the position, the Bears may not go anywhere and could be thinking about their future after this season.