The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach with a clear mandate to develop Caleb Williams and reshape the offense after a difficult rookie season for their 2024 first overall pick. Halfway through their first year together, the partnership is showing tangible signs of progress.
Johnson’s debut came in a narrow three-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings after the Bears surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead. Since that opener, Chicago has steadily improved under the new leadership.
Analyst Colin Cowherd recently shared his perspective on why the Bears are trending in the right direction despite lingering organizational challenges.
“I love the coach, the quarterback is super talented. There’s a lot they’re not doing right. The Bears now lead the NFL in big plays. That’s good for me. They’re a flawed team from ownership down, but they got the two things (Quarterback-Head Coach) that appear right,” Cowherd said.
“The Bears now lead the NFL in big plays. That’s good for me”@colincowherd & @DannyParkins discuss Chicago’s first half of the season pic.twitter.com/1czjsQq1bq
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) November 7, 2025
Chicago sits at 5-3 with three close victories that have built confidence throughout the roster. Williams has noted the difference from last season when the team struggled to finish tight games.
Now they are finding ways to close out opponents in critical moments. The next phase of development involves getting all three units to perform at their best simultaneously.
Williams is also on pace to make franchise history under Johnson’s system. He is currently tracking to become the first quarterback in 106 years of Chicago Bears history to surpass 4,000 passing yards in a single season. The Bears remain the only NFL franchise without a 4,000-yard passer in its record books.
Johnson’s offensive scheme has unlocked the explosiveness that was missing in previous seasons. Chicago leads the league in big plays through eight games, a statistic that reflects both Williams’ development and the coaching staff’s ability to create opportunities downfield.
The foundation appears solid even as the organization works through broader structural issues beyond the field.
