Caleb Williams got clobbered last season as if he owed every defensive lineman in the league money. The guy got sacked 68 times. Sixty-eight! That, too, for a No. 1 overall, trying to establish himself in the Windy City. Instead, he was catching wind. Only David Carr and Randall Cunningham have worn the turf more in a single season.
While most rookie quarterbacks get a grace period, Caleb got a crash course in pain. What made it worse? A chunk of those sacks were on him. Pocket presence? Still buffering. So, when Bears head coach Ben Johnson stepped in, he wasn’t just inheriting a franchise QB—he inherited a fixer-upper with a rocket arm and a broken clock in his head when it comes to blitz reads.
Now here’s where it gets spicy. Terry Bradshaw—yes, the four-time Super Bowl champ with a Hall of Fame bust and zero filter—didn’t hold back when he joined FOX 32 Chicago. His message to Johnson? Don’t waste this talent. “He’d [Ben] be so creative, and I think Williams, your QB, is a tremendously gifted young man,” Bradshaw said, setting the tone.
And if you thought he was going to go soft? Think again. Terry dunked on the critics like he was in a ‘70s Steelers huddle again. “Football’s so-called experts… they don’t understand if you don’t have an offensive line… you’re not gonna be successful.” Say it louder for the people in the back, TB!
But here’s the pivot—and it’s a big one. Terry didn’t just back Williams. He endorsed Ben Johnson like he was running for mayor of Soldier Field. “Johnson’s a smart guy. He knows. And the other thing is you’ve gotta teach your QB where his weaknesses are versus the blitz and where his picks are. That’s why Johnson, for me, is the best hire there is.” You feel that? That’s Bradshaw placing a vote of confidence with more weight than most Twitter trolls combined.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine Feb 25, 2025 Indianapolis, IN, USA Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Indianapolis Scouting Combine Indiana United States, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250225_ams_al2_0087
Well, for all the grudges you hold against Terry’s, you’ve got to admit he’s got it right this time! Johnson’s resume in Detroit screamed QB-whisperer. The man turned Jared Goff from a Rams castoff into a borderline NFC North menace. Imagine what he can cook up with Caleb once he gets the right ingredients.
Now, despite receiving the 3rd-most sacks in the league’s history, Caleb Williams’ numbers show that he just needs a stable O. Something that Terry was endorsing during his appearance on FOX. 3,541 yds for 20 TDs and only 6 INTs, while also setting a franchise record of 489 rushing yards. Have that. Now, maybe Ben’s got it easy with a talent on his hands, and he just needed to move the pieces around Caleb. Well, that’s what everyone asked the new HC to do, and he’s done that.
Is it Caleb Williams’ 2025 season?
Speaking of ingredients, the Bears didn’t just walk into the 2024 Draft—they kicked the damn door down. With four picks in the first two rounds, Chicago went shopping for weapons and protection like a paranoid mob boss. Colston Loveland gives you tight end dynamism and red-zone nightmares. Luther Burden III? That’s a human joystick who can YAC you to death. Ozzy Trapilo brings the frame and footwork of a blindside bodyguard.
And after the draft weekend, even Ben laid out a strong message: “I think all we did this weekend was we might have just turned up the notch just a couple of dials for certain people in the building. So that’s a good thing. That’s a healthy thing.” He was saying, if you can’t do your job, warm the bench. Plus, each of these picks screamed one thing: Ben Johnson isn’t waiting around for Caleb to “figure it out.” He’s building him a fortress and arming him with gadgets.
Terry saw it too. “You’ve got to build your offensive line which the Bears are tryna do… his (Williams) skill set is amazing,” he said. You know what that sounds like? A Hall of Famer tipping his cap to a front office that’s finally thinking in 4D. Loveland and Burden aren’t just toys—they’re part of a calculated effort to get Williams comfortable enough to stop playing like he’s in a haunted pocket. Johnson’s got the scheme. Now he’s got the pieces. Whether Williams catches up with the playbook—or keeps holding onto the ball like it’s prom night—remains the $35 million question.
But Terry was not done cooking. “His [Ben Johnson’s] offensive scheme is just so much fun to watch. You’re very fortunate to have him… we need the Bears back and this is going to be it.” That’s Bradshaw speaking like a man who wants to call Bears games that matter again. Fox sure does. And let’s be honest, we want the banters to come in from Chicago. But it won’t happen with another 5-12 season.
Now, if this rebuild hits right? If Ben Johnson teaches Caleb Williams to dance around pressure instead of freezing like he’s dodging laser beams? Then forget 68 sacks—we might be talking 68-yard bombs next season. So, here we are: the Bears have the coach. The quarterback. And the draft picks. Also, apparently, they’ve got Bradshaw’s seal of approval. But will it all click in time? Let us know what you think.
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