The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams in mind. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had a great season in terms of individual success but it didn’t elevate the Bears as they finished the year with a 5-12 record.
Hiring Johnson feels like a no-brainer as he helped another former No. 1 overall pick, Jared Goff fufill his potential with the Detroit Lions. But while Johnson’s presence can help Williams succeed, it also puts a ton of pressure on him heading into his second season.
Bears Investment Into Ben Johnson Puts Pressure On Caleb Williams
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, the Bears “didn’t cut corners” while trying to hire Johnson this offseason. Chicago gave Johnson a five-year, $65 million contract that pays him an annual salary of $13 million. The annual salary is more than double the $6 million the Bears paid Matt Eberflus last year and it’s even more than Johnson’s former boss as Dan Campbell makes $11 million per season according to Front Office Sports.
The Bears also make a similar investment with general manager Ryan Poles in the coming months. Poles, who was hired by the Bears in 2022, is currently under contract through 2026 and may get an extension that syncs him up with Johnson, whose contract ends after the 2029 season.
Poles’s contract won’t be as much as Johnson’s but the Bears could be dumping in close to $20 million into their brain trust to try and get the most out of Williams next year.
While the Bears didn’t reach their expectations, Williams had a strong rookie season, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. But Williams also had a tendency to hold onto the ball with a league-leading 68 sacks taken and his 95.4 passer rating on play-action attempts ranked 18th among starting quarterbacks with 50 percent of snaps last season according to Pro Football Focus.
Johnson can help Williams work on his flaws but it will be up to the second-year phenom to make it happen. If Williams performs, it could form a power duo in the NFC North. If he doesn’t, the Bears could move on to a hand-picked successor, putting plenty of weight on the young quarterback’s shoulders.