Cubs News: Caleb Williams screamed in excitement after hiring of Ben Johnson |
CHICAGO - Quarterback Caleb Williams had one of the most tumultuous rookie seasons in recent memory. He had two head coaches, three offensive coordinators, and too many offensive line combinations.
Now, the pieces are falling into place for next season as the Chicago Bears have hired Ben Johnson as their next head coach. “Insanely excited … Once I got off the phone, I was driving on the highway and I don’t know if it was safe or not, but I gave out a loud yell and scream of just excitement,” Williams said. “It brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason. It brings a bunch of different things to the offseason and I’m really excited about the Bears and this (organization) and being able to make this happen and keep Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time.” Williams established himself as a competitive quarterback when he arrived in Chicago. One thing he was looking for in the next head coach was a competitive spirit like his. That is exactly what he sees in Johnson’s eyes and something he already likes about his new coach. “You can see the competitiveness in his eyes and the fire in his eyes and it was really cool seeing that (because) it’s actually the first time that we talked. After games, I tried to go find him and shake his hand at least after our games and I think he ran off … I’m super excited for this organization and everything to come,” Williams said. “That’s one of the most important things is that fire, that will and want to win. I think not only me but being able to bring the accountability, being able to bring the discipline … It starts with Ben and the rest of the coaches that he brings along and then once we figure out exactly what his rules are and how everything goes and how it needs to be run, it bleeds into the players and then from there, it’s in the locker room and now we have to take it and run with it from there and keep leaning on each other, keep growing and progressing and being disciplined to each other and accountable to each other because what he’s been able to do over where with Detroit and that offense, you don’t see an offense doing things that they were doing without somebody like Ben at the helm of it just because there’s so much time and so much effort and so much energy and passion that goes into it. That’s great and all, but without the discipline and accountability, you don’t get to do all those cool things.” They have an entire offseason to get to know each other, but it appears Johnson and Williams may already be on the same page. While he has only met his new coach once, Williams said he feels he and Johnson have the same mindset when it comes to scoring and sportsmanship. “I think we have the same (mindset) about scoring and all these different things and sportsmanship is at the end of the game when you shake hands and be respectful in those ways,” Williams said. “But when you’re on the football field, you want the other teams to feel as if you embarrassed them and so, being able to go out there, and that’s a collective thing - special teams, defense and obviously offense - being able to go out there and score points, hold teams to minimum points and when it’s needed, put the special teams on the field and they go out there and execute perfectly. I think a full collective brand of football is what we’re aspiring to go for and get and really excited about that opportunity.”
