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Video: Ben Johnson Details Jared Goff-Like Plan for Caleb Williams, Bears Offense

Julia StumbaughJanuary 24, 2025

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 5: Quarterback Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, at Lambeau Field on January 5, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

After shaping the Detroit Lions' offense around Jared Goff for three seasons, newly-hired Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson plans to make similar moves around Caleb Williams.

"We'll take the same track and mindset that we had with Jared, which is, we're going to build this thing around him," Johnson said Friday on the Rich Eisen Show (2:00 mark of the video below.)

Johnson went on to provide some insight as to how he saw the Bears' offense taking shape around Williams:

"The offense, conceptually, schematically, we're going to really spend a lot of time together, and build it from him and mine. We're gonna build the rest of the unit, whether it's offensive line, perimeter unit, with him in mind. And we're gonna accentuate his strengths, and we're gonna make sure we are working to improve his weaknesses. So we'll have a great, detailed plan."
"There's no question that one of his superpowers is his ability to create and extend plays, and that's not something that we want to take away from him. We're gonna encourage that within structure, as well. The perimeter players have to be in tune with, when a play breaks down and he breaks the pocket, how we're gonna respond to that so we can capitalize on big plays outside of the pocket."

Johnson said it would take sitting down and watching tape with Williams to determine the specifics of his offensive plans, but added that early conversations with the incoming second-year quarterback left him optimistic about their future relationship.

"That's why I'm so encouraged so far. He's been very receptive," Johnson told Eisen. "He wants to be coached hard. This will be a different experience for him than what he's ever had here in college, or so far in the NFL. But we'll see how far we can push the envelope with him."

Goff had some of the best seasons of his career through three years playing in Johnson's system in Detroit. He finished the 2024 campaign with career highs in passing touchdowns (37, good for fourth in the NFL) and QBR (68.4 quarterback rating, sixth highest in the league.)

Williams meanwhile took 68 sacks, the third-most in NFL history, while ranking 28th in the league with a 46.7 quarterback rating during his rookie 2024 season. The Bears will hope bringing Johnson into the fold can help the former No. 1 pick turn those numbers around during his second season the NFL.