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Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson revealed why Caleb Williams was not happy after one of the team’s recent practices
Life comes at you fast in the NFL. This time last week, Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears were sitting in the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture. After suffering a 28-21 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in Week 14, though, the Bears fell all the way down to the No. 7 seed in the playoff picture, indicating that they have some work to do if they want to find their way into the postseason.
While Chicago put together a solid performance against Green Bay, it wasn’t enough for the team to come out on top. Perhaps the guy who is taking the loss the hardest is star quarterback Caleb Williams, as Johnson recently revealed that the second-year passer was not happy with himself during one of the team’s practices during the week.
Ben Johnson Shares Eye-Opening Caleb Johnson Story
Johnson was hired as Chicago’s new head coach over the offseason, and one of his main objectives was to help Williams take the next step forward in his development under center. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Bears have a 9-4 record through 13 games, so it’s tough to argue with the results.
After he endured a nightmare rookie season under the lead of Matt Eberflus, Johnson had his work cut out for him when it came to getting not just Williams on the right path, but the team as a whole. There were reports of a poor relationship between Williams and the coaching staff in 2024, so it was up to Johnson to come in and get off on the right foot with the former No. 1 overall pick.
That is precisely what Johnson has done, and Williams has looked much improved through 13 games, throwing for 2,908 yards and 19 touchdowns so far this year. Williams still has so much room to grow, though, but he is intent on finding a way to become the best version of himself. As Johnson recently shared, Williams was upset with himself for his poor execution during one of the team’s recent walkthroughs, which are largely used to install plays ahead of a game.
“He’s doing a really good job right now of being critical of himself,” Johnson said of Williams. “We see it the same way. We’ll watch tape together, and he’ll be like, ‘Man, I’ve got to be better there.’ We just had a walkthrough, and he’s a little pissed off walking off. He’s like, ‘I had two in there that I could have gotten a little bit cleaner.’ Well, we just installed the play, so that’s natural.”
Bears Aiming to Get Back in the Win Column in Week 15
GettyHead coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears.
It takes time for quarterbacks to find their footing in the NFL, especially when they get thrown into the sort of situation Williams found himself in as a rookie. Things have been much smoother with Johnson in charge, but there is still work that can be done to help Williams improve his play on the field.
If Chicago can find its way into the postseason in just Williams’ second year, that would be a huge win for the team. In Week 15, the Bears will have a great opportunity to earn their 10th win of the season, as they have a matchup with the lowly Cleveland Browns on their hands. Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, and if all goes according to plan, Chicago will further solidify its playoff position in the crowded NFC wild-card race with another win.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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