After leading the Detroit Lions’ offense the past three seasons, former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson got his break when he was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Armed with a blue-chip quarterback prospect and a contract that will pay him $13 million per season, the grass looked pretty green as Johnson headed down to the Windy City.
But things haven’t turned out as well as Johnson had hoped during the opening week of training camp. Inheriting a team with a 5-12 record has had its share of difficulties and it’s giving Johnson a problem he never would have encountered had he stayed in Detroit.
Bears QB Caleb Williams is Already a Headache Former Lions OC Ben Johnson Doesn’t Need
Johnson’s issues were highlighted by the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Wiederer. Speaking during an interview on 670 The Score, Wiederer believed there were some maturity issues that were continuing to hold Johnson’s newest pupil, Caleb Williams, back, resulting in a sensible demand from the coaching staff.
“I would say there is a push to make sure on a daily basis that he understands the commitment level that is required to reach the heights that both he and the team are trying to get to,” Wiederer said. “I think that’s a maturity process for a young quarterback, and it’s one that they are pushing Caleb to understand as quickly as possible, that you better understand when you go home from this building at night, that your first responsibility is preparing for the next day and understanding what’s coming from you the next day and being ready for what’s coming the next day and being in your playbook and getting all those little things down.”
The problem has also shown up in training camp as Williams has struggled to get the Bears’ offense lined up correctly. The sloppiness caused Johnson to scream so much that tight end Cole Kmet admitted he couldn’t understand him, and continued when Williams launched a pair of interceptions during Friday’s practice.
Bad 7 on 7 drill in the red zone. Caleb Williams picked off on back to back plays.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 25, 2025
First one at goal line to DJ Moore was picked off by Jaquan Brisker. Looked like ball was tipped or batted in air. Believe Terell Smith in coverage.
Next play was a bad throw and decision as TJ…
Williams’s talent isn’t an issue. He won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 2022 and was one of the most heralded quarterback prospects in recent memory when Chicago selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. His rookie season also turned out well, considering the circumstances, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions while being sacked an NFL-high 68 times.
But Williams’s training camp performance has to be a little disappointing for a franchise quarterback entering his second year, and it’s something Johnson wouldn’t have experienced in Detroit.
The Lions are in great shape entering the upcoming season as Jared Goff returns under center. A former No. 1 overall pick in his own right, Goff is cerebral and has a playing style that allows him to make plays on schedule. These were things highlighted during the second season of Netflix’s docuseries “Quarterback” and made Johnson’s life easier working with an offense that’s already on the same page.
Of course, Johnson could turn things around with time, and that will get easier as Williams gets more time in the system. But while the Bears are begging their quarterback to dive into the playbook, the Lions are preparing for a potential Super Bowl run with theirs.
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