Caleb Williams is looking to have a better sophomore season than his rookie season. The Chicago Bears have a new head coach in Ben Johnson who will look to right the ship after last season’s disastrous finish. The Bears lost 10 straight before a Week 18 win brought them to 5-12.
The offense underperformed in part due to struggles on the offensive line. Williams was often running for his life, getting sacked 68 times last season. Fortunately for him, the Bears have focused on rebuilding the trenches, and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel praised the moves Chicago made up front.
Caleb Williams Has New Friends
Williams needed some help on the offensive line, and he has gotten plenty of it this offseason. The Bears have brought in former Los Angeles Rams guard Jonah Jackson, former Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney, and former Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman. Daniel praised these signings as the Bears work to protect their franchise quarterback.
“I’d say this is quite the revamp for Bears offensive line. Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney, & Drew Dalman have just become Caleb Williams best friends,” Daniel said on X about the new moves.
Chicago’s offensive line overhaul is a major upgrade. Williams will appreciate his new “best friends” after the struggles up front last season. Given how often he got hit, his body will be thanking the Bears for investing in his protection.
Jackson has been a solid starter in his five-year career, reaching one Pro Bowl in his second NFL season. The Bears acquired Jackson by giving up a 2025 sixth-round pick. Last season, he only appeared in four games and didn’t have a clear starting role in Los Angeles. He has played guard throughout his career and could slot into that spot in Chicago.
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Thuney was a slam-dunk acquisition for the Bears. He is a two-time first-team All-Pro and has been to six Super Bowls, winning four of them. He is also one of the most durable offensive linemen in the league, only missing two games over nine years.
The Chiefs made the tough decision to move off of Thuney due to looming salary cap concerns with pending contracts. The Bears capitalized on this dilemma, landing Thuney with only a 2026 fourth-round pick. It’s a likely win-win trade, freeing up cap space for Kansas City while giving Chicago a top-tier lineman.
The Bears also needed a center, though, and got the top one on the board as soon as the legal tampering period opened. Dalman reportedly agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with the Bears, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Dalman earned his deal with his solid play in Atlanta over the last four seasons. He should be slotted in at center for the next three years in Chicago to deliver Williams the ball cleanly and keep him healthy as well.
The Bears’ revamped offensive line is looking to be in pretty good shape. As Daniel put it, this is quite the revamp, and if these linemen do their jobs, Williams will have some new “best friends.”