Chicago Bears Minicamp: Caleb Williams Needs Teammates to Reach Goals

Caleb Williams is having quite the offseason. 

The Chicago Bears' quarterback was named the Madden cover athlete for the next installment of the popular video game, appeared as the main guest on the latest "New Heights" podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce and the 24-year-old finished eighth in total merchandise sales. 

It's a good time to be Chicago's franchise player. 

Even though Williams has received plenty of national recognition, coach Ben Johnson doesn't feel he needs to get involved in helping the young quarterback manage everything going on his life. 

"No, I'm focused on coaching him," Johnson said. "Our discussions are always about football. This is a guy that has grown up in this. He's been a five-star recruit. He's won a Heisman. I think he knows how to handle attention, and you come to a big city like Chicago, a team that loves their sports or a place that loves their sports and loves the Bears. I think this is kind of what he's built for, so I think it's a good match."

Williams is not opposed to carrying a lot on his shoulders. If anything, as Johnson mentioned, he's built for it. Go back to his press conference during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he said he's not playing football for the money or fame, "it's to be immortal. I want to reach that sense of being a legend."

The only way Williams will achieve the lofty goals he has set for himself is if he takes another step in Johnson's offense. Tight end Colston Loveland will play a vital part in making that happen. 

The two connected 58 times for 713 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season, a promising start for their one season of work. Chicago's second-year tight end also sees the chemistry improving between he an his quarterback. 

"I think kind of what I said earlier, things are hitting at a faster and better rate than they were last year," Loveland said. "But still a lot on both ends – drops, missed throws and completion that'll boost the completion percentage. That's all of us collectively and we're aware of that and we know that, we need to continue to grow in that aspect.”

Loveland also emphasized he wants to continue building camaraderie with Williams as the two work on their rhythm and timing in this offense.

Veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond would also echo Loveland's intentions. Although Raymond has played for Johnson in the past while the two were in Detroit, this will be the receiver's first season with Williams. He knows the chemistry between the two will take some time. 

“I think that type of stuff just comes with work practice and repetition," Raymond said. "So, it's hard to say, it’s early right now, so it's hard to pinpoint a lot of this stuff. But that's what you have camp for. That's what you have the extra reps after practice for. That's what we have been talking about, we've been talking about a few routes now, just how he envisions it, but that stuff, that stuff comes with time and repetition, and the only way to get that is to work at it. Even if you had a whole year with Caleb last year, this year is a different year than it was last year. So you're constantly building that. So, it's a matter of work and that's what we're putting in right now, especially today.”

There's been plenty of talk about Williams outside the walls of Halas Hall, but what truly matters is what is being said from his coaches and teammates. And those around Williams are committed to doing their part to make this offense a lethal unit in 2026. 

With more team and individual success, comes more recognition. And for Williams, that's to be expected given what he wants to accomplish in his NFL career.