The story of Caleb Williams and his interaction with the Chicago Bears offers a glimpse into the intricacies of NFL team dynamics and the developmental hurdles young players can face.
Recently, an ESPN.com piece highlighted Williams' concerns about potentially joining the Bears. Yet, buried later in the story, and likely to stir further intrigue, is an anecdote from Seth Wickersham’s much-anticipated book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. Williams, reflecting on his 2024 experience with the Bears, remarked how isolated his film study had been. “No one tells me what to watch,” Williams confessed to his father. “I just turn it on.”
This admission is telling. It not only hints at the deep-seated dysfunctionality within the Bears' structure but also poses a critical question: Can new coach Ben Johnson transform this culture?
Johnson’s reputation as an offensive guru precedes him. His presence alone should signal a shift for Williams, who, if nothing else, might finally learn the nuances of film analysis. Yet, the Bears' history suggests caution. A year ago, the decision-making team retained Matt Eberflus and appointed Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, bypassing candidates like Kliff Kingsbury, who had demonstrated success elsewhere.
It’s tempting to give the Bears the benefit of the doubt. Maybe under Johnson's leadership, the days of mediocrity are numbered. But as that minor detail in Thursday’s ESPN feature serves to remind us, teams marred by dysfunction tend to perpetuate it, often in ways that affect rising talents like Williams.
Change is needed for the Bears—beyond surface-level hires—if they wish to shake off the shadows of their own past missteps.
