Coming off a gut-wrenching loss to the Packers-a game that carried real playoff weight-the Chicago Bears find themselves at a crossroads. And head coach Ben Johnson knows it.
This week, standing at the podium, he wasn’t just addressing the media. He was speaking to a fan base that’s been through the highs and lows of a rollercoaster season, and he made it clear: the Bears aren’t done yet, and neither is Caleb Williams.
Let’s start with the obvious. That late-game interception against Green Bay?
Brutal. On 4th down, with the game on the line, Williams tried to hit a familiar play he’d already executed for a touchdown against the Eagles.
But this time, Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon read it like a book and sealed the win for Green Bay. It was a tough pill to swallow, especially in a game that had turned into a second-half thriller.
But Johnson isn’t interested in dwelling on that moment-and frankly, neither should the Bears. That kind of mistake stings, sure, but it’s also part of the learning curve for a young quarterback trying to find his footing in the NFL.
And Johnson made it clear: he wants more of these moments for Williams. More high-leverage, postseason-type games. More chances to grow under pressure.
“Hopefully we can find a way to make it into the dance. I think he’ll be playing his best football when we earn that right. ...
I know good things are coming down the horizon. He’s going to continue to get better.”
That quote from Johnson is telling. The word “hopefully” might raise some eyebrows-it’s not exactly a guarantee-but the message behind it is rooted in belief.
Johnson sees the growth. He sees the potential.
And he believes that when the lights are the brightest, Williams is going to shine the most.
It’s worth remembering where this team was when Johnson took over. The Bears were a last-place squad coming off a disappointing rookie campaign from their No. 1 overall pick.
The NFC North looked like a gauntlet, and expectations were tempered. Johnson’s mission was twofold: develop Caleb Williams into a legitimate NFL starter and restore relevance to a franchise that had fallen behind its divisional rivals.
That’s not an easy ask. Williams came into the league with the weight of the football world on his shoulders.
He was the Heisman winner, the consensus top pick, and hailed as a generational talent. But the NFL doesn’t hand out success based on college accolades.
It demands growth, resilience, and the ability to bounce back from moments like that interception in Green Bay.
And to his credit, Williams has shown plenty of that this season. He’s made strides in his reads, his pocket movement, and his ability to extend plays without forcing them. He’s still developing, no doubt, but you can see the flashes-the moments where he takes over a drive, or strings together throws that remind you why he was the top pick in the first place.
That’s what Johnson is betting on. That when the Bears earn their way into the playoffs-if they can-Williams will be ready to elevate his game. And with a defense that’s been opportunistic all year, creating turnovers and giving the offense extra chances, Chicago has the kind of complementary football that can make noise in January.
But first, they’ve got to regroup. The margin for error is razor-thin now, and it starts with a must-win game against the Browns.
After that? A rematch with the Packers at Soldier Field.
That one’s already circled on the calendar-for Williams, for Johnson, and for every Bears fan who wants to see this team take the next step.
This isn’t just about bouncing back from a tough loss. It’s about proving that this team-and this quarterback-are built for the moments that matter most.