CHICAGO (WGN) — The mastermind behind the highest-scoring offense in the NFL over the last three years is set to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears so, what does that mean for the development of Caleb Williams?
According to The Athletic’s Dan Pompei, Ben Johnson will be a conduit of empowerment for Williams, but also emphasize balance and aggression on offense along the way.
“Some things that stand out from my time around him and the Lions: He’s low on ego but big on analytics,” Pompei said of Johnson on X. “He thinks creatively and will emphasize the run game and protections. Johnson will have a vision for what he wants to do with Caleb.”
Detroit finished the 2024 season tied for second in TD runs (29), while averaging the fourth-most rush yards per game (149.4) and fifth-most yards per carry (4.8). Running back Jahmyr Gibbs led the NFL in TD runs (16) and TDs from scrimmage (20) on the way to racking up 1,929 total yards and his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
In his three years of calling plays for the Lions, Detroit ranked second in the NFL in team TD runs (79), trailing only the Philadelphia Eagles (83). The Lions were also fifth in the NFL in team rush yards (6,978) over that time frame, trailing only the Atlanta Falcons (7,096), Bears (7,147), Eagles (7,747) and Baltimore Ravens (8,570).
On the offensive line under Johnson, Detroit has never ranked lower than eighth in team quarterback sack percentage by season’s end. The Lions finished eighth in 2024 (5.56%), fourth in 2023 (5.03%) and third in 2022 (3.92%).
“More on Ben Johnson: He is likely to empower Caleb offensively,” Pompei continued on X. “He gave [Jared] Goff authority with protection adjustments that not all QBs have, and eliminated plays that Goff didn’t love. Also, Bears will be going for it on fourth down — Johnson was pushing for that before he had authority and before it became popular.”
Goff had the best season of his career in 2024, posting career highs in TD passes (37), completion percentage (72.4%), success percentage (54.7%), yards per attempt (8.6), air yards per attempt (8.96), passer rating (111.8) and QBR (68.4). His 4,629 passing yards also marked his third straight season eclipsing the 4,000-yard mark — a feat he only accomplished in back-to-back seasons in Sean McVay’s offense for the Rams.
Detroit had the second-most passing yards (13,768) and TD passes (98) in the NFL over Johnson’s three-year tenure as offensive coordinator. Only the Minnesota Vikings had more passing yards (13,897) and the Cincinnati Bengals had more TD passes (105).
When taking the entire offense into account, no team has scored more touchdowns (182) or racked up more total yards (20,134) than the Lions over the last three NFL seasons. The Buffalo Bills are second in touchdowns (172) and the San Francisco 49ers are second in total yards (19,386).
A part of that offensive dominance is a result of Detroit’s aggression on fourth down. Since 2022, the Lions have gone for it on fourth down the second-most in football (110), behind only the Cleveland Browns (118). Detroit ranks sixth in fourth down conversion percentage over that timeframe (57.3%), despite having 25-to-51 more fourth down attempts than the five teams ahead of them in conversion percentage.
All of these statistical marvels came to a climax in 2024, when the Lions set franchise records for wins (15), point differential (+222) and points per game (33.1), just to name a few.
Comparatively speaking, these are numbers the Bears have rarely come close to touching.
As has been stated time and again, Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for more than 4,000 yards, or 30-plus TD passes.
The last time the Bears were a top-five scoring offense was 2013 when they finished fourth in the NFL and averaged 27.8 points per game. Chicago finished that season 8-8 behind Jay Cutler — who threw for 2,621 yards, 19 TD passes and 12 interceptions — and Matt Forte — who accounted for 1,933 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns.
In 2024, the Bears finished 28th in points per game (18.2) and dead last in total yards (4,820). Under center or in the gun, Williams finished the season as the most-sacked quarterback in football (68). Those offensive ineptitudes contributed toward the firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and later, head coach Matt Eberflus. He became the first head coach to be fired midseason in franchise history.
Despite all this, Williams still finished 2024 with respectable numbers. The former USC Trojan completed 351-of-642 passes for 3,541 yards, 20 TD passes and six interceptions while also running the ball 81 times for 489 yards.
Williams’ 3,541 passing yards is the fifth-most in a single season in franchise history, while his 20 TD passes is a Bears rookie franchise record. His 4,030 total yards is also the most by a quarterback in franchise history, eclipsing the total yards mark set by Cutler (4,003) in 2014.
In what turned out to be an omen of sorts, Williams recently appeared on the St. Brown Brothers Podcast, where he hinted at wanting a coach who could help him take the next step in his game.
“Selfishly, I want an offensive-minded guy so I can build with him and be with that coach for the next 19…17…15 years,” Williams said. “If it’s Ben [Johnson] …”