When Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson first met the local media in his current capacity, he stressed that he would make the team work harder than they ever had and be challenged in different ways in a similar fashion, starting with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
During an appearance at Fanatics Fest NYC, Williams spoke candidly about the budding relationship with his new head coach.
Caleb Williams Gets Honest About Ben Johnson After Bears’ Offseason Program
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From the first practice that was open to the media, Johnson and his coaching staff could be seen correcting players. Oftentimes, the teaching points came with emphasis. All of it was in the spirit of teaching them the right way and reinforcing it before the penalties of not doing so cost the team.
Johnson even admitted to the media that they had some ways to go before the Bears are ready.
According to Williams, that showing – and the others that followed throughout the offseason program – were indicative of the environment around the Bears under Johnson.
“Ben Johnson uses choice words every day towards me. He’s tough,” Williams told those in attendance, per Empire Sports Media’s Anthony Rivardo on June 20. “He jokes a lot, he’s fun, but he’s super serious about the details… makes it a joy to be there every day.”
Williams has long said that he wants to be coached hard, a trait great players often display.
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick is also coming off the heels of his polarizing thoughts about landing with the Bears coming to light in an upcoming book by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham.
Ben Johnson Pleased With Caleb Williams’ Progress During Offseason
Johnson’s arrival was fueled largely by the Bears’ failures with Williams as a rookie. It offers a fresh start for the QB, who led the league with 68 sacks taken.
According to Rivardo, Williams said his and Johnson’s goal is to be in Chicago “for a long time.”
Johnson praised Williams’ desire to improve during the offseason program. The QB participated in the team’s final organized team activity. The session was geared more toward rookies.
“He’s committed to learning the offense. We’re not where we need to be yet as a team, and he understands that. And any chance he gets to get a few more full-speed reps, it sounds like he wants them,” Johnson told reporters on June 10.
“We’ve loaded him up. We’ve tried a number of different things – long play calls, multiple plays at the line, and we’ve dabbled here – tempo – we’ve dabbled here, there, and everywhere really throughout the springtime. And some comes a little bit more natural than others for him. But I do think we’ve seen them get better in really all facets.
“I feel pretty confident in the things that he’s put on tape that we can go ahead and get after a little bit.”
The Bears will open the season on Monday Night Football at home against the Minnesota Vikings. That is who Williams wanted to join after his pre-draft visit. That was before becoming convinced about Chicago during a trip there.