Ben Johnson, head coach of the Chicago Bears, made strong remarks regarding Caleb Williams. This triggered a debate on ESPN, as Johnson spoke openly about what is happening with the 23-year-old quarterback.
According to the coach, Williams’ development during the offseason hasn’t met expectations. In fact, it seems the player is starting from scratch to meet the demands of both the game and the team.
A tough truth for Caleb Williams
According to Essentiallysports, Johnson was blunt about Williams: “There really aren’t a lot of remnants of what he was asked to do… We’re asking him to be a bit more structured in terms of the plays… There’s a lot more going on mentally than he’s probably ever dealt with.“
Great quote from Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams. He’s basically a rookie all over again thanks to Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus.
“There really isn’t a ton of carryover from what he was asked to do the play calls or anything of that nature… Now we’re asking him to be a little… pic.twitter.com/FDDKaD4Lsp— Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) July 26, 2025
What’s strange is that Williams performed well at USC and last season. The coach now expects him to master under-center plays, layered progressions, and pre-snap adjustments—in short, to play like a complete quarterback.
Johnson said Williams is “playing a little slower than he’s capable of” and believes it’s due to mental adaptation. However, he trusts that the young player’s physical ability will help him take charge on the field.
A response on ESPN
Johnson’s words sparked a heated discussion on ESPN. There, Dan Orlovsky defended Williams: “He has to erase habits built over a decade… It’s not going to click in September, and that’s okay.“
In other words, Williams needs gradual work to reach the level his head coach demands.
Bart Scott, meanwhile, questioned the whole situation: “Why are we making this all about Caleb? Just hand the ball off, use play-action, play with the defense. Why can’t he succeed that way?“
Scott also pointed to a possible culprit: “I hate these system coaches who can’t adapt to their players. It’s Johnson’s job to meet him halfway.” He believes Johnson must support Williams so the young quarterback can feel comfortable and confident.
