The Chicago Bears made quarterback Caleb Williams the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he later won four of his first six starts before he and the club endured a 10-game losing streak that resulted in the 23-year-old having to deal with the in-season firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus.
During a conversation with Esquire’s Brian O’Keefe for an article published on Tuesday, Williams opened up about how some of Chicago’s late-campaign defeats left him searching for answers.
“When I got home, I got in my bed. I just dropped a few tears,” Williams directly said. “And I was just so beat-up mentally, physically, spiritually.”
Williams wasn’t just “beat-up” mentally and spiritually. Pro Football Reference stats show that he took a league-high 68 sacks this past season. To compare, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans was second on the list with 52 sacks taken.
Additionally, Williams ended the campaign ranked 31st among qualified players with a 46.7 adjusted QBR and 24th with an 87.8 passer rating. Over his 17 starts, he tossed 20 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
“I think those losses were pretty important for me and my growth,” Williams said about the 10 consecutive defeats. “To go on a losing streak, to be in this position and be at the helm of it, was definitely important for me. Just being able to see how I need to be when times are bad.”
The Bears hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their next head coach and have tasked him with helping Williams reach the signal-caller’s advertised ceiling. Williams told O’Keefe he is “definitely excited” to learn under Johnson, and the 23-year-old was also willing to share what he feels he needs to improve as a second-year pro.
“Processing, and then taking more checkdowns, and then footwork. I think those three are big for my game that I’m going to be working on,” Williams said.
Williams insisted during his chat with O’Keefe that the “plan is to go win big” later this year, coming off Chicago’s disappointing 5-12 campaign.
As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Bears as +110 betting underdogs to reach at least nine victories for the 2025 regular season.
