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
The decision not to part ways with Matt Eberflub looks like a major misstep by Ryan Poles? It’s been reported 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 it’s already been reported that… Read more »
@Bears57. My coach Ben wanted to come hire almost exclusively because of having Caleb to work with. He played a different style in College and the Fluss staff tried developing him as something he is not. He’s not going to be Manning, Brady or Montana with progressions. He’s going to be used in a way his skill sets allows him to Excell. I still believe that Caleb was the right pick but who knows, maybe 3 years from now we will be talking about Drake Maye as they passed on. Time will tell
@Bears57 nails it yet again.
(I didn’t say it, so don’t everybody yell at me all at once.)
This doesn’t underscore what a waste his rookie season was. It underscores what a waste the pick was. You don’t draft a player 1:01 if you need to teach him a position (that you’re drafting him to play at immediately) entirely from scratch. That’s something you do with 5th, 6th and 7th round picks. What a joke.
@Fleece I am just quoting the article. You believed an article a day or two ago and used it against me, so it must be reality. Or do you just pick and choose when to believe Erik? Even with two #1 picks and other advantages, Poles was still pretty much a disaster. Both Flus and Poles highly reflected the Peter Principle at work.