The 2025 Chicago Bears were yet another example of how having the right guy leading the way can turn a franchise around in no time. Ben Johnson got off to a slow start, but he led the team to a deep postseason run and a divisional title in his first year with the team.
Of course, expectations will be much higher for his second season in Chicago. The Bears have had an up-and-down offseason, with some questionable decisions on defense and promising moves on offense.
The Bears want to make sure they won't go through the classic sophomore slump after a strong first season under a new regime. That's why Caleb Williams illustrated just how confident he feels about the offense, though he could've probably phrased it a little better:
"It's a hell of a lot more fun for me than it was last year just because I feel like I was drowning trying to breathe or stay alive and wait for a boat to come around last year," Williams said (h/t Ben Devine).
Caleb Williams is having more fun in Year 2 with Ben Johnson
While that 'drowning man' analogy might be a bit too harsh, it's also quite telling of how Johnson has helped turn things around. He took a team with a subpar offensive line and an erratic rookie quarterback, and he turned them into playoff-caliber competition.
Johnson has taken a no-nonsense approach to coaching. He'll tell it as it is, and he won't be satisfied after a win. Williams has operated well under pressure and in big-stakes moments, but the head coach won't let him get too high on himself and will call him out and hold him accountable if needed. That may have been a bit overwhelming at first, but Williams seems to feel more comfortable now.
The Bears essentially wasted Williams' rookie season. There was no objective reason to keep Matt Eberflus in town, and it was clear as day he wasn't the right guy to develop him. He still played the entire year, but last season was, essentially, his first in an NFL-caliber offense.
He has two years of experience under his belt, and having some continuity in the offense will obviously help make a smooth transition into year three. He has to work on his accuracy, but he has all the talent in the world, and he's working hard to make the skill match the potential.
The Bears might have a tough time replicating last year's success —it's just the way it goes whenever teams have enough film to catch up and/or have to play a tougher schedule. But if they can get even a bit more out of their uber-talented quarterback, they should be just fine nonetheless.
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