Caleb Williams seemed just as thrilled as Chicago Bears fans about the team’s decision to hire Ben Johnson as their new head coach.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Bears finalized a deal with Johnson on Monday, securing their top choice immediately after the Detroit Lions were eliminated from the 2024 NFL playoffs.
Williams, the Bears’ 23-year-old starting quarterback, made his feelings about the hire clear by liking Pelissero’s Instagram post announcing the news—a reaction Pelissero later screenshotted and shared on X.
While the Bears have not yet officially announced Johnson’s hiring, they are expected to name him as the franchise’s 18th head coach on Tuesday, January 21. Details on Johnson’s first media appearance as an NFL head coach are expected to follow.
Johnson served as the Lions’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, earning a reputation for aggressive and innovative play-calling. In 2024, his offense led the league in scoring and ranked second in total yards and passing yards. He also played a key role in quarterback Jared Goff earning a Pro Bowl selection in two of their three years together.
The Bears are hoping Johnson can replicate that success with Williams.
Can Ben Johnson Elevate Caleb Williams’ Game in 2025?
Despite a turbulent 2024 season for the Bears, Williams had an impressive rookie year. He threw for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns—both franchise rookie records—while limiting his interceptions to just six, setting an NFL rookie record for the most consecutive passes thrown without a pick.
Williams also showcased the elite arm talent that led the Bears to draft him No. 1 overall in 2024. Johnson had praised Williams’ abilities prior to the hire, speaking highly of him in December.
“There’s no question this guy is talented,” Johnson said at the time. “I remember standing on the sideline last game, and you can hear the ball whistle by you. He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him. Can extend plays and is accurate down the field as well.”
Now, the focus will be on Johnson elevating Williams’ performance. While having an offensive-minded head coach should be an advantage, Williams will need to adapt to a new scheme, terminology, and playbook, all while working on his footwork and ability to diagnose defensive fronts.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen is optimistic that Johnson’s system will be a good fit for Williams.
“Under Johnson’s coaching—in a system that will create more timing throws off play-action and movement while also setting up explosive plays—Williams should be expected to take a major step forward in 2025,” Bowen wrote. “Johnson can develop Williams to be more rhythmic in the pocket and maximize his ability to create and throw on the move.”
Bears Fan Pranked Caleb Williams Using Ben Johnson
Although Williams seems excited about Johnson’s hiring, he had a moment of confusion after falling victim to a prank involving the coach last week.
During an appearance on the St. Brown Podcast, Williams shared a story about how a fan prank-texted him pretending to be Johnson. The text claimed the Bears had hired Johnson as their next head coach.
Williams considered verifying the number with Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown but got caught up in the moment and FaceTimed the number. Instead of Johnson, he was greeted by a group of kids laughing on the other end.
Williams handled the prank well on the call, calling it a “classic prank” on the podcast, but admitted he wasn’t so calm afterward.
“I wanted to smash some s***,” he said. “I was fuming.”
On the bright side, Williams won’t have to rely on pranks anymore. He’ll soon have his chance to work with Johnson directly.
