Ben Johnson has made a habit of building his offense around the run, and that hasn’t changed just because he’s now in Chicago. It’s part of what defines him as a play caller and designer, and the results over the last four years back it up.
But Johnson has never treated his quarterbacks like passengers. Caleb Williams threw the fifth-most passes in the NFL last season, proof that Johnson can lean on the ground game without putting a lid on his young quarterback.
That balance helped the Bears win 11 games and take the division last season, which is why the expectation is that Johnson would stay with the same formula in 2026. But Johnson also has a competitive streak that doesn’t take much to light.
When he thinks people are doubting him or his players, he takes it personally. CBS Sports just handed him a fresh reason to do exactly that.
The projections have Williams finishing below last season’s production in yards and touchdowns, and once again failing to reach 4,000 passing yards. Some of the numbers are downright eye-catching. Ben Johnson should be livid with some of them.
And maybe he should be, because the case against Williams doesn’t look nearly as strong as those odds suggest.
Jay Cutler still owns the Bears’ franchise mark for games with 250 passing yards or more in a season, with eight. Williams had six in 2025 and was within 30 yards of that threshold three more times.
His 58% completion rate clearly kept some of those totals down, but the arm talent was never the question. He also went over 330 yards five times between last season and 2024.
Another year in Johnson’s system, plus a loaded group of weapons, makes the bigger passing milestones look very reachable.
Williams himself isn’t chasing numbers for their own sake. He has said 4,000 yards is a goal, but not the main goal.
Since arriving in Chicago, he has kept the focus on winning Super Bowls. If that means a game where he throws for 150 yards and a touchdown while the run game carries the load, he’s fine with it.
That mindset has helped make him a strong leader for the Bears. The spotlight may follow him, but it doesn’t seem to change him.
There’s plenty of reason to think the passing total can jump anyway. Williams finished last season just 60 yards shy of 4,000 even while posting the worst completion percentage in football.
A modest improvement there - even three percentage points - would clear that mark with room to spare. The 400-yard game is not some fantasy either.
He threw for 361 against Green Bay in the playoffs.
Chicago’s schedule should give him chances to push it higher, too. The Bears will see several teams with weak pass defenses at some point this season. If the ground game stalls in one of those matchups, Johnson won’t hesitate to turn Williams loose.
The supporting cast is built for it. Colston Loveland flashed as a budding star last season.
Rome Odunze brings dynamic ability when healthy. Luther Burden can stretch the field as a deep threat.
D’Andre Swift adds another dimension as a receiver out of the backfield. Put all of that together, and the ingredients are there for a big passing season.
In the end, it comes down to Williams stacking completions. Betting against him hasn’t exactly paid off lately.
In Other News...
Kyle Davidson May Have Come Closer Than Blackhawks Fans Realize
Kyle Davidson has already spent much of the offseason shaping the Blackhawks next step through trades and the draft, and the work does not appear to be slowing down now that prospects have arrived for development camp. The practices are open to the public and free, which gives fans a first-hand look at the organizations young talent while the front office continues to sort through a busy market around the league.
Trade season is still very much alive, with reports tying other teams to names such as Jason Robertson and Kirill Marchenko, a reminder that the Blackhawks are operating in a market where big swings are still available. Chicago has been connected to plenty of chatter of its own, and the real question is how far Davidson has been willing to push when the right player comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Fans Finally Get Their First Real Prospect Debate Of Summer
Blackhawks development camp finally feels like a real summer checkpoint again, with on-ice work back in the mix after recent versions were limited to off-ice training. That alone gives this gathering more texture than the usual June and July prospect routine, and it also makes the camp a more useful look at where the organizations young players stand as they try to push into bigger roles.
The group includes 19 prospects spread across forwards, defensemen and goaltenders, with a blend of players who already have some pro mileage and others still trying to make their first real impression. Names like Sacha Boisvert, Stanislav Berezhnoy and Adam Gajan give the camp a little more intrigue, while former first-round picks Vaclav Nestrasil, Marek Vanacker and Mason West headline a roster that should at least give Blackhawks fans something worth debating until the next bigger summer headline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Davidson Just Put Blackhawks Fans On Notice This Offseason
The Blackhawks are heading into the offseason with a mix of urgency and patience, and Kyle Davidson is making it clear the front office will at least look to move the roster around. Chicagos GM said the club is definitely open to trades while also leaving the door open to a blue-line addition, though he stopped short of suggesting the defense has to be overhauled.
There is also a quieter message in the way Davidson framed the conversation: the current group may be good enough to take into the season if nothing appealing materializes. For a team still sorting out its long-term shape, that kind of flexibility matters, but it also leaves Chicago watching the market closely to see whether the right upgrade becomes available. [Read more 🡒]