Ben Johnson may already be feeling some regret about leaving the stability of the Detroit Lions for the uncertainty surrounding the Chicago Bears.
During the Bears’ first training camp session, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams—whom Johnson is tasked with developing—threw an interception on his very first pass in full-team drills. Things quickly unraveled, as the offense looked disjointed and out of sync. Johnson, clearly frustrated, yanked the first-team unit off the field entirely.
While it’s still early, and Williams deserves time to adjust to the speed and intensity of NFL practices, this isn’t exactly the confidence-inspiring start the new coaching staff hoped for. Williams showed flashes of promise last year when protected, but he rarely had a clean pocket. In fact, he faced more unblocked defenders than any other quarterback in 2024.
The Bears made a strong effort to fix that issue, revamping their offensive line with veterans like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. Rookie Ozzy Trapilo has also been getting reps at tackle with the starting unit. With these upgrades, Johnson could eventually unlock Williams’ potential—but day one didn’t provide much optimism.
What’s most concerning is that Williams has already had time to get familiar with Johnson’s demanding coaching style, yet he came into camp seemingly unready. That’s a troubling sign for a franchise eager to turn the page on the dysfunction of the Matt Eberflus era, where basic things like going over the playbook reportedly weren’t even happening.
Johnson might not be second-guessing his move just yet, but the shift from a well-oiled machine in Detroit to a struggling Bears offense is bound to come with some growing pains—and probably a few headaches.
