Caleb Williams did not have an ideal rookie season (33rd in the NFL, according to PFN’s QB+ metric), but he proved to everyone that he is the Chicago Bears’ franchise quarterback. The NFC North team now has to find the best head coach for the young quarterback to fuel his development and contend in arguably the toughest division in football.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles is actively on the lookout for a new head coach and has interviewed several candidates, including Pete Carroll, Ron Rivera, Ben Johnson, Mike McCarthy, and Mike Kafka.
Bears Have Narrowed Down HC Search to 2 Options
NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently appeared on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” and gave an update on the Bears’ head coach situation. He discussed how the franchise has narrowed down its search to two candidates.
“I think it’s been made clear to me that, for all intents and purposes, the Chicago job … is a two-horse race between Mike McCarthy and Ben Johnson,” Schultz said. “I think if Brian Flores goes in and wows them, then he is still in that mix. But right now, I think McCarthy and I think Ben Johnson are the two leading candidates for Chicago.”
For the Bears, though, there are key factors to consider when selecting their next lead man, chief among them is someone to develop their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“It will be really interesting to see what Chicago, what type of direction they want to go because, in many ways, the franchise is Caleb Williams, ideally for the next decade-plus,” Schultz added. “They’re going to give [Williams] an offensive coach, I believe, but he’s not going to have a say in the hiring.”
.@Schultz_Report says the Chicago Bears head coaching search is a two-horse race between Mike McCarthy and Ben Johnson pic.twitter.com/Y4x0lx6iP8
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 16, 2025
Former head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron didn’t do a good job of putting Williams in a position to succeed in 2024. The team underperformed massively and finished the season with a record of 5-12.
Poles is also under a lot of pressure to get the right head coach, and so far, it looks like he is doing the right thing. Getting an offensive-minded head coach like Johnson or McCarthy will be ideal for the team, and both candidates have worked in the NFC North before, which could work as an advantage for the Bears.
Caleb Williams Should Be Happy With the Franchise’s Approach
The franchise undeniably let Williams down during his rookie season in a few key aspects. Despite getting sacked 68 times in 17 games, the USC product threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, completing 62.5% of his throws with a passer rating of 87.8.
The biggest concern about him coming into the NFL was his reckless style of play, but the lack of turnovers in Williams’ rookie season is a positive sight for the Bears. The NFC North team is repaying it by potentially hiring Johnson or McCarthy, both of whom would be great for the quarterback.
Johnson has done an impressive job in Detroit, and he could help Williams take the next step required to become a superstar in the league. As for McCarthy, he could provide the stability required by the Bears franchise, and the former Dallas Cowboys head coach’s experience of working with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott will also come in handy.
Williams has the potential to become a player of Rodgers’ caliber, but it can only happen with the right head coach. The 23-year-old quarterback should be happy that the Bears are pursuing head coaches who will suit him, as we have seen many quarterback’s careers get wasted due to their surroundings.
Chicago has learned from their mistakes with Justin Fields and is not wasting time before doing everything possible to help its quarterback.