The Bears are heading into one of the most critical off-season’s in franchise history. After a chaotic rookie season for Caleb Williams, the team faces immense pressure to reset and build around him properly—starting with the coaching staff and bolstering the roster, particularly in the trenches.
GM Ryan Poles addressed how new head coach Ben Johnson plans to work with Williams on SiriusXM NFL Radio, saying:
“He’s going to bring him all the way down to the ground floor again and build him up the right way.”
"He's going to bring him all the way down to the ground floor again and build him up the right way."@ChicagoBears GM Ryan Poles on HC Ben Johnson working with QB Caleb Williams.
📻 https://t.co/CxDwwjtObe#NFLCombine | #Bears | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/TtTqu2rxAK
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) February 25, 2025
For Bears fans, this approach might spark excitement or concern, as it essentially means Williams will be starting fresh. While he still benefits from the experience and live reps from his rookie year, Johnson and his staff will be focused on refining his game and developing him into the superstar quarterback everyone expects him to be.
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While rebuilding Williams the “right way” is a promising plan, it also underscores how wasted his rookie season was. The decision not to part ways with Matt Eberflus earlier now looks like a major misstep by Ryan Poles. Earlier this week at the NFL Combine, Ben Johnson emphasized the importance of Caleb Williams and the offensive skill players meeting on their own during the offseason to get reps in. This would help ensure they stay on schedule heading into spring camp and July’s training camp. Johnson also praised Williams’ work ethic, noting that while they haven’t worked together for long, the young quarterback has been relentless in his efforts—constantly reaching out and showing a strong desire to be great.
Ryan Poles Makes First Eye-Opening Move Ahead Of Free Agency
Torrold.
Thanks for explaining the “from the floor up” analogy for me. I was perplexed…
John57. CW has only played one year. How much did he actually learn? To me it was basically survival techniques since nobody was really teaching him anything. He’s gonna be like a house brought down to its foundation. All the bad wiring, bad flooring, bad plumbing, bad drywalling replaced. By a general contractor, who should know what he’s doing displayed by the fact that he’s had success with the Detroit Lions the last handful of years. Especially with a guy like Jared Goff, who was perceived to be an average or slightly above average quarterback until Johnson got a hold… Read more »
@barry_mccockiner on a lighter note, if you didn’t already know, registration is open for Children’s Oncology Service’s charity poker night in mid April. Get yourself a seat (or two and bring a date).
@Krisanthony I can’t keep up with the ever shifting narrative about what QB1 can and can’t do. Literally every person here, writers included, save for about 4 guys, was screaming to the heavens that QB1 was what QB dreams are made of and could do all the things the last QB1 couldn’t do. Up to and including reading defenses, going through progressions, passing from the pocket yada yada. Now he can’t do those things? I mean he has the open field threat level of a fifth grader. So if he can’t play from the pocket and he can’t run, what… Read more »
The decision not to part ways with Matt Eberflub looks like a major misstep by Ryan Poles? It’s been insinuated many times on SM that he wanted to fire Eberflub at the end of the 23′ season but was overruled by George. If Poles had his way, Eberflub would not have been the starting head coach last season, and we’d probably be going into year two with Ben J as head coach. Put the blame where the blame belongs. I get the Ryan might have to fall on the sword for George on this, but Geez.