Bears' Ben Johnson Details Areas for Caleb Williams to Improve in 2026

The Bears' offensive coordinator sees specific ways the young QB can take the next step.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:35pm

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In his second NFL season, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams showed progress, but head coach Ben Johnson believes there are still areas for the young QB to improve, including decision-making when throwing on the move and accuracy when extending plays.

Why it matters

As the Bears look to build around their young quarterback, Williams' continued development will be crucial to the team's success. Improving his in-game decision-making and accuracy when improvising could help take the offense to the next level.

The details

While Williams' stats improved from his rookie year, his completion percentage dropped and he threw one more interception. Johnson cited Williams' accuracy when throwing on the run as an area needing work, as well as his decision-making on when to stay in the pocket versus when to leave and extend plays. The coach believes Williams has the athletic ability to 'bail out' the offense when plays break down, but the team needs him to capitalize on those situations more effectively.

  • In 2025, Williams' second NFL season, his completion percentage dropped by over 4% from his rookie year.
  • Last October, Williams acknowledged he missed 'about five or six' throws while on the move, which he found 'extremely frustrating'.

The players

Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, who is entering his third NFL season in 2026 after showing progress in 2025 but still having room to improve.

Ben Johnson

The offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, who has identified specific areas he wants to see Williams improve in the upcoming season.

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What they’re saying

“That's where Caleb comes in handy ... he can bail us out when we are wrong, which we're going to be wrong each and every game. I'm going to mistime some calls, or they're going to throw something at us that we weren't prepared for. And that's on him and his athletic ability to bail us out.”

— Ben Johnson, Offensive Coordinator, Chicago Bears

“I missed about five or six on the run, which is extremely frustrating for me, especially just how my nature has been for the past couple years of my career.”

— Caleb Williams

What’s next

As the Bears continue their offseason program, Johnson and the coaching staff will work closely with Williams to address the areas they've identified for improvement, with the goal of helping the young QB take another step forward in 2026.

The takeaway

Caleb Williams showed promise in his second NFL season, but the Bears know he still has room to grow, especially when it comes to decision-making and accuracy when extending plays. Improving in those areas could help Williams and the Bears' offense reach new heights in 2026.