The Chicago Bears enter this NFL season in a brighter spotlight than they have had in some time. With a talented head coach and an ascending quarterback, the belief is they can handle whatever comes their way. This pairing intends to prove last year was no fluke. In a recent article, Mike Pendleton analyzes the Bears’ future with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. Here is what he had to say about the Bears and their two most important pieces:
‘The Chicago Bears will enter the 2026 season looking to build off their success from last year, where they won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, led by first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
Hiring Johnson was the biggest key for the Bears going into last season, pairing him with quarterback Caleb Williams, unlocking the former No. 1 overall pick’s potential in just one season. Williams set a Bears franchise record for most passing yards in a single season, breaking a record that had been held by Erik Kramer for 30 years.
Moving into 2026, Chicago’s expectations are to improve on their year which ended in an NFC divisional playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but the pairing of Williams and his head coach continues to provide hope for the future.”
The bar was set high in year 1, as Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams delivered excitement in Chicago that has not been felt since 2018. If that is what they can do while they are still figuring things out, 2026 should be even more special with the two at the helm.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: After success in 2025, expectations are rising for Caleb Williams
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
