Caleb Williams begins his second season with the Chicago Bears, aiming to overcome historic difficulties faced by the franchise and lead the team back to the NFL playoffs. The promising quarterback, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, is focused on improving his skills during training camp alongside a revamped roster to help the Bears end a long postseason drought.
Williams’ Development as Keys to Turning Around Bears’ Fortunes
Williams is actively participating in the Bears’ training camp as he adapts to a new team environment, with hopes of elevating his game beyond the flashes of brilliance seen in his rookie season. NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out specific areas where Williams needs growth, emphasizing the challenge of adjusting ingrained habits formed over years of college and early NFL experience.
“Getting off of the first progression and moving on. Building in that timing, building in that rhythm, and then, the placement of the throw. Being elite while you’re playing in the rhythm of the pass game; that’s the hiccup that has always been Caleb’s back in OU, then to USC and then to his rookie year.”
—Dan Orlovsky, NFL Analyst
“It’s fixable, but it is not gonna happen in September. He has to erase a decade worth of playing a certain style of football and rebuild the habits.”
—Dan Orlovsky, NFL Analyst
This coaching challenge reflects the weight of a decade where the Bears struggled to find consistent quarterback success. Since the retirements of Jay Cutler and other key players, multiple signal-callers including Justin Fields, Nick Foles, and Mitchell Trubisky have failed to stabilize the offense, leaving the Bears off the postseason map for four consecutive seasons.
A Fresh Start Under Head Coach Ben Johnson
The Bears chose Williams as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after his standout college careers at Oklahoma and USC, drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes because of his strong arm and leadership traits. Despite his potential, Williams’ rookie campaign saw mixed team results, with a promising start of four wins in six games followed by a collapse that produced only one win in the final ten games.
Williams concluded his first year with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, but the team finished with a disappointing 5-12 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Chicago’s last playoff appearance was in 2020, and they have not won a postseason game since 2010, when they advanced to the <a href=”https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/nfc/”>NFC Championship before losing to their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, at Soldier Field.
Determined to reverse this trend, the Bears hired Ben Johnson, former offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, as their new head coach. Known for his creative offensive strategies, Johnson is expected to work closely with Williams to develop a more effective and dynamic offense that can contend in a competitive division.
Outlook for Williams and the Bears in the Upcoming Season
The Bears open their 2024 season facing the Minnesota Vikings in September, carrying hopes that the combination of Williams’ progression and Johnson’s innovative play-calling will spark a return to playoff contention. While the road ahead involves shedding past inefficiencies and building new consistency, both the quarterback and head coach appear committed to transforming Chicago’s offensive struggles into strengths.
As Williams seeks to fulfill the high expectations placed on him as the Bears’ top draft pick and potential franchise quarterback, his ability to overcome entrenched habits and align with Johnson’s system could define the Bears’ next chapter. With significant pressure to end a decade-long postseason drought, Chicago’s success next season will largely depend on this critical developmental phase for their young quarterback.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Was Caleb Williams number 13?
A. He was one of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round, matching the record set in 1983 for the most in NFL history. Since his college number 13 was already worn by Keenan Allen, Williams chose to wear number 18, which he used in high school. This decision was shared shortly after he was picked in the draft.