With 298 yards, four touchdowns, and a 142.6 rating, Caleb Williams had a field day against the Dallas Cowboys in Chicago, justifying all that hype around him in the 2024 NFL Draft. But then the playing style he displayed highlighted more.
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Caleb’s performance had a mix of his signature long throws and an aggressive running game. That can be attributed to Ben Johnson’s direct involvement in mentoring the QB.
Following the Bears’ 31-14 win, Tom Brady proudly announced on Fox that Caleb Williams is his LFG Player of the Game. The GOAT’s word will boost the confidence of the 23-year-old QB, who is often criticized by fans for off-field matters, including painting his nails.
In the post-game show, an excited Brady was asked about how Caleb can further adopt Johnson’s style. It would be tough after all, since they both have a lot of dissimilarities in playing style. Brady advised Williams to just “watch and learn”.
If that was not enough, Brady narrated his example while detailing why sitting as a backup is an important step toward succeeding in the NFL. “We can use Brett Favre as an example. Aaron Rodgers got to watch behind him. Then Jordan Love got to watch behind Aaron Rodgers. Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. That dynamic,” he said, before looking back at his Patriots days.
“I got to watch Drew Bledsoe for a year. It was great for me. I could learn so much just by observing things I like and I thought was okay, this is what I could do differently if I ever get a shot,” added Brady.
Unfortunately, Caleb never really got the opportunity to sit behind a veteran QB. Soon after the draft, he was picked as the Bears’ QB 1. He had a passer rating of 87.8 with 3541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in 17 games in his rookie season. And the 5-12 record put high pressure on Caleb.
The front office’s move to appoint Ben Johnson as the head coach seems to have eased Caleb’s burden. That has reflected in the quarterback’s production this season.
Caleb completed 210 yards against the Vikings and 207 yards against the Giants. His TD production leaped from 1 to 2 and then to 4 in the third game this season. It again signals a hallmark of Ben Johnson, under whom Jared Goff scored more TDs, even when it meant fewer passing yards and some interceptions.
Looking at the rapid progress, Brady had a perfect action plan on how the Bears’ HC can mentor Caleb. “It’s kind of spoonfeeding a different kind of offenses that Caleb hasn’t really run,” he stated.
The Patriots legend also detailed the difference in the playstyle of Caleb and Johnson. “Caleb in college didn’t huddle. He didn’t motion. There were a lot of things that were very stationary in offense. That is the hallmark of Ben Johnson’s offense. A lot of multiplicity, a lot of different formation variations. He’s got to layer that information every week,” elaborated Brady.
Another factor that works in Caleb and Johnson’s favor is the age gap. At 39, Johnson is someone who is a young head coach, and for a Gen-Z QB like Caleb, the presence of a younger head coach is good for building a personal equation.
Bears fans will get a close chance to witness their dynamic during the face-off against the Raiders on September 28. Brady will also be keeping a close eye on that game since he is a minority owner of the Raiders.
