Caleb Williams went through hell in 2024. There is no getting around the truth. He was sacked 68 times, the third most in NFL history. Even worse, he got minimal support from his coaching staff. Other NFL teams literally laughed at the “offensive system” former coordinator Shane Waldron put together. Matt Eberflus did nothing to help. In a wild report, Seth Wickersham of ESPN revealed that Bears coach never bothered to watch film with Williams, forcing him to do it on his own most of the season. Such gross negligence goes a long way in explaining why the rookie looked so out of sorts at times.
Former quarterbacks could not believe it when they read that part. Dan Orlovsky was disgusted by it, knowing full well how challenging the NFL is even with proper guidance. The same was true of Chase Daniel. The former Bears backup quarterback understands how young quarterbacks can struggle to adjust. That is why the team brought him in as a free agent in 2018 to help Mitch Trubisky. Daniel believes the arrival of veteran Case Keenum, more than many additions this offseason, could transform Williams.
Caleb Williams finally has the support system he needs.
Keenum is no stranger to working with younger quarterbacks. He’s renowned as an excellent teammate and locker room presence. Plenty of high draft choices ended up having him as a backup who went on to great success. Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, and C.J. Stroud stand out the most. His steady presence and knowledge of how to digest an NFL offense properly will be so beneficial to Williams. Having Ben Johnson as the new head coach, with his obsessive attention to detail, makes it even better.
It feels like the Bears finally have adults in the room for once. Keenum has experienced every part of an NFL career, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Being able to navigate that is essential for any quarterback if they want success. Keenum will give him a priceless education if Caleb Williams keeps an open mind.
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