The Chicago Bears may be at their lowest point in franchise history. This extends over a long period of time. Mired in a 10-game losing streak, there’s a good chance their skid will extend to 11 when they play in Week 18 of the Green Bay Packers. Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the visiting Seattle Seahawks was just the latest debacle in a season full of them. The team’s 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 16 was equally disheartening.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles failed to pick Ohio State’s CJ Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft. He didn’t select LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Oregon’s Bo Nix, or North Carolina’s Drake Maye either. The team’s selection of USC’s Caleb Williams, arguably the first big star of college football’s new NIL era, has always been questioned to some extent. Williams had emerged as the best quarterback in this year’s class in the eyes of most analysts and decision-makers, but Daniels quickly closed the gap.
Williams’ very difficult first season is one of the many reasons why the Poles chose to fire former head coach Matt Eberflus. It seemed that Eberflus had lost the locker room, and many players, including Williams, reportedly began to turn on the former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator. Now that he’s gone, the focus should turn to who can best save Williams and build this team out on the field? The best way to win is to have a long-term quarterback in place, and the Bears will hopefully still have him in the old number one pick.
Poles and team president Kevin Warren have undoubtedly kept tabs on how Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson fared with their rivals. Johnson helped revitalize the career of another number one pick, Jared Goff. He didn’t take the head coaching job this past offseason because it’s believed he’s waiting for the right one. Could Chicago be the right solution? If that’s the case, there’s a good chance the offensive mastermind has his next rehab project in Williams.
Could Ben Johnson put Caleb Williams and Bears on the right track?
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There’s a reason Williams was the number one pick in last April’s NFL Draft. He has skills that could easily make him one of the best signal callers in the NFL. His physical qualities combined with a high football IQ make him an offensive coach’s dream. Those skills could flourish under Johnson’s tutelage. Goff’s growth under Johnson has been a great story, and he has turned his career around in the Motor City. Goff’s Pro Bowl nod this season is evident from his progress.
If Johnson can do that with someone like Goff, who simply doesn’t possess Williams’ physical skills, then he could do wonders with the latest overall selection. Plus, luring him away from division rival Detroit would be even sweeter. The biggest problem might be the Poles. If the team is struggling or not meeting expectations, the general manager could be fired. If he’s the one who hires Johnson, would the future head coach have a short leash?
There’s a reason the Lions’ current offensive coordinator has been selective in his desire to become a head coach. The Washington Commanders were reportedly interested in his services last offseason, and they hired a new general manager in Adam Peters in addition to taking likely Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels right after Williams. All three situations had their advantages, but the Bears’ work should be better than all of them.
With the amount of talent the Poles bring, especially on offense, Johnson would likely be the best choice the team could make. But are the Bears right for him? If Poles and Warren don’t at least try, Williams may never reach the heights he is certainly capable of reaching.
