The Chicago Bears have officially entered the NFL’s contender chat - and this time, it’s not just noise. After claiming the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a statement win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the narrative around this team has shifted.
The whispers of the Bears being pretenders? Those have been drowned out by the sound of a team that’s playing tough, smart football in December.
And now, even the national spotlight is catching on. JJ Watt - three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a guy who knows a thing or two about what winning football looks like - took notice this week. Watt praised first-year head coach Ben Johnson for something we don’t often see from rookie head coaches: brutal honesty.
After Johnson publicly challenged his quarterback Caleb Williams, saying the Bears were winning “in spite” of the passing game, Watt chimed in with a simple but telling response:
**“Blunt, direct and honest from a first-year head coach who currently has his team in 1st place in the NFC with a 9-3 record.
Very refreshing.” **
That’s not just lip service. That’s a Hall of Famer recognizing a coach who isn’t afraid to hold his players accountable - even when that player is the No. 1 overall pick.
Let’s unpack that moment a bit. Johnson’s comments weren’t about throwing his quarterback under the bus.
They were about setting a tone. He’s building a culture where performance matters more than pedigree, and where the standard doesn’t bend based on who you are or how much hype you came in with.
It’s exactly what Bears fans have been hoping for - a coach who’s not afraid to coach hard and coach real. Johnson said from day one that he was going to push his players, and that included Caleb Williams. And make no mistake: this is the hardest Williams has ever been coached.
So far, the rookie quarterback has been a mixed bag - and that’s okay. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, including five game-winning drives this season, which is no small feat for a first-year signal caller. But there’s also been inconsistency, especially in ball placement and accuracy.
That’s where Johnson’s comments come from. He’s seeing the same things fans and analysts are seeing - and he’s not sugarcoating it. But at the same time, he’s building an offense that’s not just surviving, it’s thriving.
Here’s the reality: Chicago’s offense, in its first year under Johnson, is already a top-10 unit. That’s not a typo.
The Bears are second in the league in rushing and rank inside the top 10 in both total yards and points per game. This offense has an identity - and it’s working.
Williams still has plenty of room to grow, but he’s in the right environment to do it. Johnson’s scheme is quarterback-friendly, but it demands precision. And with the ground game doing heavy lifting, the Bears are giving their young QB a chance to develop without having to carry the entire load.
It’s a delicate balance - building for the future while competing in the present - and somehow, the Bears are pulling it off. At 9-3 and sitting atop the NFC, they’ve gone from a team people doubted to a team nobody wants to see in January.
This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a real football team with a real shot. And with a head coach who’s not afraid to speak the truth and a rookie QB who’s learning fast, the Bears might just be getting started.