LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — In the unforgiving game of football, nothing is ever promised. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has found that out the hard way as a rookie.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams arrived at Halas Hall with Bears management vowing to provide stability for him. What has ensued since is one of the most disappointing, dysfunctional seasons in franchise history.
As the Bears (4-12) ride a 10-game losing streak into their season finale against the Packers (11-5) on Sunday, the greatest victory of their forgettable campaign is that they didn’t break the 23-year-old Williams, who's set to make his 17th start as a rookie. That means he wasn't physically broken in the first 16 games despite taking a great deal of punishment while being sacked an NFL-high 67 times. Beyond that, Williams has maintained an optimistic tone throughout the miserable season, showcasing that he hasn't been emotionally broken either.
In his first NFL season, Williams has been asked to lead his team while adjusting after the firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Nov. 12 and head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29.
“The dysfunction or coaches being fired, yes, it’s been tough and challenging,” Williams said. “When you have to come in here and learn a whole new type of system and all these different things and then you have a multitude of different things that happen, whether it’s coaches being fired or coaches being promoted, a bunch of different things.
“Being able to go through this and being able to have this dysfunctional year in a sense of coaches and all of that, not winning as much as we wanted to, I think it’s going to be better for myself and better for us, but I wouldn’t say this is exactly what I was looking at or looking for or anything like that.”
On Monday at Halas Hall, the Bears will begin their offseason by conducting exit interviews with players and by putting in official requests to interview coaching candidates. It will mark the turning of the page from a disastrous season.
The hope for a bright Bears future is Williams, who has showcased promise while also revealing why he needs the right structure around him to succeed. Williams has thrown for 3,393 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Throughout his 16 starts, there have been flashes of greatness and also inconsistency.
That's why the hiring of a new head coach is imperative for Williams’ future and that of the Bears.
What's best for Williams must be at the forefront of the Bears’ coaching search. He needs an innovative offensive mind at the helm to install the right system and to forge an identity. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson would be my leading choice for the job. Those who know Johnson describe him as a detail-oriented individual who craves structure, a “perfectionist” who will demand that of everyone at Halas Hall.
That sounds like what Williams craves, as he has explained his desire to have stability and structure in place around him. That potential marriage between head coach and quarterback would offer the Bears the best chance to move forward.
Williams has the tools to be great in the NFL. Despite the chaos around him, he's approaching the finish line of his turbulent first NFL season. That alone feels like an accomplishment.
Now the Bears need to do their part. It's their responsibility to fulfill their vow to create stability around Williams, then see where he can lead them.
Kmet wins Good Guy Award
Bears tight end Cole Kmet was named the Jeff Dickerson Good Guy Award winner for the 2024 season.
The Good Guy Award recognition was formed in conjunction with the Pro Football Writers of America and is given to one player from each NFL team who best accommodates the local media with a standard of professionalism. The award was renamed by the local chapter in Chicago to honor the late Jeff Dickerson, a beloved ESPN writer who passed away in December 2021 after a brave battle with cancer.
Kmet won this award for the second time and is the first multi-time honoree. Kmet is a worthy recipient given how he handled increasingly difficult media obligations by speaking with grace throughout the Bears' frustrating season.
Emma’s prediction (11-5): Packers 31, Bears 17
In a miserable season that’s seen just about everything, all that's missing for the Bears is an ugly loss in Green Bay. Then it's on to an offseason in which the Bears will hope to finally get it right.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.