The Chicago Bears look like a different team under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. The change is no accident: Johnson was hired in large part to help Caleb Williams develop, and the roster is beginning to show the payoff as a once-stagnant franchise pushes toward sustained contention.
Williams arrived in the NFL amid sky-high expectations as the consensus No. 1 pick. He remains a work in progress, but he keeps finding ways to win — most recently guiding the Bears to a 31-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That win was Chicago’s eighth in nine games and pushed the team to 8-3, sitting atop the NFC North.
Sky Sports NFL analyst Jason Bell praised Williams’ trajectory, saying the quarterback is improving week to week and thriving in crucial situations. “I evaluate quarterbacks by their execution in moments — the red zone tells you everything you need to know,” Bell said. “Caleb Williams is evolving in front of our eyes. He understands offenses, reads how defenses try to stop him, and his playmakers trust he’ll get them the ball. He can deliver; he can be a top-five quarterback. He wins the moments and has the arm talent to execute at the highest level.”
Against Pittsburgh, Williams completed 19 of 35 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns, flashing creativity with plays that stretched and disrupted defenses outside the pocket and demonstrating better feel for game tempo with Johnson calling plays. He also made costly mistakes — misfires, misreads and an odd end-zone sack that resulted in a touchdown — and acknowledged after the game that there’s still room to clean things up.
Bell also credited Johnson’s approach, noting the coach lets the team enjoy victories but quickly highlights what was left on the field to keep players improving. That mentality has helped the Bears prevail in tight games: six of their wins this season have been by one score, and five have required fourth-quarter comebacks.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze echoed the locker-room confidence. “We know when we come out here we’ll find a way to win,” he told Sky Sports NFL. “The red zone has been an emphasis — when we get down there we need touchdowns — and today we executed. We’re right where we want to be and ready for the tough opponents ahead.”
Chicago’s defense has been a reliable complement. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s unit closed out the game, and an early interception by cornerback Nahshon Wright gave him five on the season, tying him with safety Kevin Byard for the league lead; linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has four. Byard, a veteran in his 10th season, praised the group’s composure: “When the offense sputtered, we had its back. We try to be the calm in the storm. There will be celebrating, but we have a short week — we’ve got Philly Friday night. Culture is proven through adversity, and we know we can pull it out when it matters.”
The Bears’ blend of emerging quarterback play, a confident coaching staff and opportunistic defense has transformed expectations in Chicago. If the progress continues, Williams and this team could be in the mix for a deep postseason run.