Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has a lot of attention on him, and that is unlikely to change.
The Heisman Trophy-winning former No. 1 overall pick who plays the most important position for one of the NFL’s charter franchises, Williams has been in the spotlight for a long time. The Athletic’s Mike Jones ranked him among the “25 most intriguing players” entering 2025.
That kicks off a roundup that also includes more activity from general manager Ryan Poles.
Caleb Williams’ ‘Most Interesting’ List Ranking Leads Bears News Roundup
Bears QB Caleb Williams Remains Heavily-Scrutinized
Williams ranked 13th on Jones’ list. He was the seventh quarterback on the list. Williams checked in behind former Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, now of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who ranked No. 1 overall.
Williams was also behind the last four MVPs: Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens).
The latter trio ranked, in order, third through fifth.
Jayden Daniels, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year who was selected one spot after Williams, ranks seventh.
Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns (9th) and Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks (10th) round out the group, offering a strong reminder that the list is about “interesting” players, not the best.
Williams still has plenty to prove in that regard.
“The No. 1 pick of the 2024 draft, Williams was regarded as a can’t-miss prospect. But after a tumultuous rookie campaign (head coach firing, three different play callers, a league-high 68 sacks), Williams has questions surrounding him,” Jones wrote on August 31. “Poles upgraded the offensive line and hired the brightest offensive mind on the market in new head coach Ben Johnson. But Williams has had a rocky training camp and preseason while learning a new system. Can he settle in and live up to the hype? For now, Johnson and the Bears would like it if Williams could simply serve as a solid game manager and worry about the rest later.”
Williams and the Bears’ starters had a rough go out of the gate against the Kansas City Chiefs in their preseason finale. They found their stride after KC began pulling its 1s.
The Bears have settled four of their five starting offensive linemen, with Braxton Jones looking poised to man left tackle again, even if only by default. Johnson lamented the steps back in efficiency before and after the snap in their final week of practice.
Williams and the starters can put forth a better effort beginning on Tuesday, their first practice.
Ryan Poles Still Making Scouting Rounds
Poles made headlines on Saturday, showing up for Texas at Ohio State before later attending LSU’s visit to face Clemson.
Poles was back at it on Sunday, joining a lengthy list of NFL general managers and executives who were in attendance as No. 6 Notre Dame took on No. 10 Miami in South Florida, per Sun Sentinel’s David Furones.
Like the first two matchups Poles attended, this one was prospect-heavy.
The group included Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. He had 10 carries for 33 yards and 26 yards on four receptions.
Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. also recorded a half-sack and had a pass deflection. He could be a key player to watch with the Bears facing questions about their defensive end rotation even after addressing it in the past two seasons.
NFL Poll Predicts Bears HC Ben Johnson Will Win Coach of the Year
Much of Williams’ success and where the Bears ultimately draft in 2026 will come down to whether or not Johnson is the coach many believe he is. Count NFL.com’s Around the NFL Staff among that group.
Johnson received eight first-place votes in the group’s poll for Coach of the Year.
“Ben Johnson could become the fifth Bears head coach to receive the award during the Super Bowl era, and the fourth since 2000,” the Around the NFL staff wrote on August 27. “The Bears are currently tied with the Patriots (Bill Belichick) as the only franchise with three COTY winners in this millennium.”
Mike Ditka (twice) and George Halas are the two pre-millennium coaches. Matt Nagy (2018), Lovie Smith (2005), and Dick Jauron (2001) are the post group.
Jauron was in his third season with the Bears. They lost in the NFC Divisional Playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith was in Year 2 as Bears HC. They lost in the Divisional Round to the Carolina Panthers.
Nagy was in his first season, just like Johnson is.
He still faced the same 1-and-done fate as his predecessors. They lost to the Eagles in the Wild Card Round that season.
He and Smith are the only ones to get the Bears to the postseason multiple times. Smith is the only one who did it three times. He also reached the Super Bowl in 2006, the year after he took home COTY.
If Johnson wins, the Bears need his path to emulate Smith’s more than any other predecessor.