With the signing of new head coach Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears can expect improvement on the offensive side of the ball next season. In 2024, the Bears’ offense ranked dead last (No. 32) in total offense, averaging 284.6 yards per game.
This despite having some dynamic weapons, adding wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, running back D’Andre Swift, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Also, wide receiver DJ Moore returned to Chicago’s offense after having a breakout season last year.
Chicago’s Ben Johnson Hired To Help Caleb Williams
Chicago needed an offensive-minded head coach like Johnson to join the staff, with the Bears finishing in the league’s bottom half in offensive stats. His hire should bring a refreshing change to a Bears offense that experienced plenty of negative plays in 2024.
Chicago did limit the turnovers (fifth-lowest at 7.7%), but at the expense of the highest sack rate in the NFL (10.7%). As a result, the Bears went three-and-out at the 10th-highest rate in 2024 (33.7%).
Everything about this hire screams Caleb Williams…you couldn’t ask for a better guy for the job to teach Caleb.
Concepts, routes, & timing will all be so much better.
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 20, 2025
According to former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, Johnson was hired strictly to help Caleb Williams develop. On his X page, Daniel stated, “Everything about this hire screams Caleb Williams…you couldn’t ask for a better guy for the job to teach Caleb. Concepts, routes, and timing will all be so much better.”
According to PFN’s QB+ metrics, Williams ranked 33rd out of 39 qualifying quarterbacks in 2024 with a 63.1 (D) grade, almost the same figure Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff received in 2021 before Johnson took over.
Breakdown of Bears 2024 offensive stats
- Points per game: 28th, with an average of 18.2 points per game
- Passing yards per game: 31st, with an average of 181.5 yards per game
- Rushing yards per game: 25th, with an average of 102 yards per game
- Time of possession per game: 18th, with an average of 30:09 per game
The Bears were a talented group that underperformed in 2024, and Williams left much to be desired in his rookie season. However, there were certainly positives, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had glimpses of brilliance.
As Daniel said, Johnson’s main focus is to develop Williams and help him realize his full potential.
Under Johnson, Goff had a career renaissance, posting career highs in completion percentage, yards per pass, and touchdowns. Yet, when Goff landed in Detroit, he wasn’t viewed as an attractive asset in the Matthew Stafford blockbuster trade.
Goff posted QB+ grades that placed him in the bottom half of the NFL during each of his three seasons before Johnson became his offensive coordinator:
- 2019: 73.7 (C) grade ranked 19th
- 2020: 72.4 (C-) grade ranked 24th
- 2021: 63.8 (D) grade ranked 26th
However, in the three seasons after Johnson became Detroit’s OC, Goff improved his QB+ grade each season and never ranked outside the top six.
- 2022: 84.0 (B) grade ranked 6th
- 2023: 84.1 (B) grade ranked 4th
- 2024: 92.5 (A-) grade ranked 2nd
Now, all eyes will be on Johnson to see if he can transition from superstar coordinator to superstar head coach. Can he get Williams and the Bears’ offense from the bottom to the top of the NFL? Only time can tell.