Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, known for his offensive expertise, now has a quarterback in Caleb Williams unlike any he’s worked with before—including Detroit Lions’ veteran Jared Goff.
Speaking at the NFL Combine on February 25, Johnson discussed what sets Williams apart and why he has the potential to become an elite NFL quarterback. While he didn’t mention Goff by name, his praise of Williams inevitably highlighted some of Goff’s limitations.
Johnson emphasized Williams’ ability to make plays outside of structure, improvising when needed—an increasingly vital skill in today’s NFL. “The off-schedule plays, the creativity—that’s what really stands out,” Johnson said. “As much as you want to stick to a pure progression, defenses create too much chaos.
Having an athlete like Caleb who can extend a play and create explosive opportunities downfield is what excites me. I haven’t really experienced that firsthand in this league, but I’ve been on the other side of it, and it’s demoralizing to watch it happen to your defense.”
Johnson’s coaching career began in 2012, with seven seasons as an assistant for the Miami Dolphins. After a brief hiatus in 2019, he returned to the NFL as the Lions’ tight ends coach before earning a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2022—a position he held for three seasons before stepping into his current head coaching role with Chicago.
During his time in Detroit, Goff was his starting quarterback for nearly the entire tenure. Johnson has also worked with other notable quarterbacks, including Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, and Matthew Stafford, in various roles throughout his coaching career.
