Bears News: From Rookie Hurdles to Year 2 Confidence: Caleb Williams’ next chapter

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 3 hours ago

CHICAGO - There is a lot to take in as a rookie. However, quarterback Caleb Williams has a year under his belt and is now going into season two, opening the year against a division rival in primetime - the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football on Mon, Sept 8 (7:15 p.m. / ABC).

Williams feels that his knowledge of the game has grown since he was a rookie, a statement that will surely be put to the test on Monday.

“I think knowledge of football and NFL football has grown. Even just sitting in some of the meetings this year and even today, and going through our first game week and just understanding things that I may not have understood last year, whether it’s defenses, whether it’s offense, whether it’s just scheme and offense or defense,” Williams said. “I think I’ve taken a step in that and got to keep taking those steps throughout this year and many years from now. But, I think Ben, I’ve said it multiple times, I think he’s been great for me. He’s pushed me, but also like I’ve said many times, he’s a teacher and he’ll be persistent until you get it.”

There was a lot made of Williams’ struggles with the cadence last year. This year, head coach Ben Johnson has changed the cadence a little bit and now that Williams is getting the hang of it, he has found it fun to use the cadence as a weapon in practice.

Further, players on the defense are noticing how his use of the cadence has improved.

“Last year, cadence was a little different than, obviously, this year. So, I think this year, it’s been awesome. It’s been fun to use,” Williams said. “Being able to hear the other guys on the other side that hear me every single day for the past how many ever months we’ve been practicing versus our defense come up to me like, ‘The cadence is getting strong. It’s getting better. It’s getting harder to decipher what and when the ball is going to be snapped’ and things like that. So, it’s positive feedback from the guys that hear me every single day, and being able to use it as a weapon is really important for us and our team.”

Another difference from last year is who Williams will be throwing the ball to. Receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are still with the Bears. But Keenan Allen was released, and Chicago brought in veteran Olamide Zaccheaus. In addition, they also drafted tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden III.

Williams’ chemistry with Odunze has been growing ever since they were drafted together back in 2024, although the relationship between Williams and Zaccheaus also seemed to click quickly upon his arrival in Chicago.

“Rome has been great. The consistent, open communication that we have between each other and his growth and him as a player, his confidence, his belief in himself and when the ball’s in the air, it’s his has grown and I’m excited and I trust him with full faith and full belief that if I throw the ball to him, it’ll be caught or at the least, it’ll be incomplete (and) 14, that’s my guy, OZ,” Williams said. “I think the connection from when he got here, I think it’s also been an open communication between him and I and there’s a lot of routes where you got to know what he’s doing. You got to know his body language and things like that - when he’s breaking, when he’s not, when he’s going to snap it off, when he’s going to settle and things like that. So, I think that’s been a work in progress from the beginning of camp and OTAs to now. I think it’s grown tremendously.”