Ben Johnson Trolls Caleb Williams’ NBA Prospects After Celebrity All-Star Game Struggles

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams led the team to the Divisional Round in their first season together.

Ben Johnson Trolls Caleb Williams’ NBA Prospects After Celebrity All-Star Game Struggles

Bears HC Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams (Image via ESPN Chicago/NFL+/X)

In Short
  • Ben Johnson has successfully improved Caleb Williams' performance as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
  • Johnson humorously addressed Williams' NBA aspirations, indicating a strong bond between them.
  • Williams confirmed their relationship by playfully responding to Johnson's comments on social media.

After Ben Johnson joined the Chicago Bears as their head coach, he has been able to get the best out of struggling young quarterback Caleb Williams in just their first season together.

When such a turnaround happens, it often points to the possibility of two things. Either the quarterback understood that his career was at stake and decided he had to accept his head coach’s lead.

Or, the two developed a bond that helped them get the best out of each other as they powered the Bears to an unprecedented run until the final few moments of the Divisional Playoff round.

I know what everyone’s thinking. Does Caleb have NBA aspirations? And the answer is no. I think football is his calling… I sent him a meme of a guy just missing left and right, like before. And then, when it actually happened, I felt bad. I was like, ‘Whoops, spoke that one into existence, didn’t I?’

Johnson told the media

This answer from the 39-year-old head coach seemingly points to a strong relationship between him and his starting quarterback. Otherwise, it is not easy to poke fun at one of the most important players on his team.

Even though other franchises have proved that it is not necessary to have a good relationship between the head coach and his core players, Ben Johnson chose to go with what he felt was important to bring success to the Chicago Bears.

Caleb Williams’ response to Ben Johnson confirms their relationship

The reporters present at the Chicago Bears’ Draft Combine media facilities also laughed along when Ben Johnson trolled Caleb Williams. Later, the quarterback also had a laugh.

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson are 'wired' similarly
Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson are ‘wired’ similarly (Image via NFL+/X)

Lie!! He does not feel bad!

Williams wrote on X

The 2024 first-overall pick wrote this in response to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin‘s X post summarizing what his head coach said. He also added a ‘noted’ emoticon, along with two laughing ones.

If anything, this confirms his relationship with Johnson, which is that of two individuals who are comfortable and close in their working environment.

It is a major departure from the time Matt Eberflus was leading the team, when Williams looked lost and frustrated beyond measure, while also being labeled as a surefire bust. Now, the USC star has the highlights to clap back at those critics.

He may be thanking the powers from up above after getting a coach in Ben Johnson, who believes in his ability, as the South Carolina native’s response to questions about his quarterback seems to indicate that.

Ben Johnson believes Caleb Williams

Ben Johnson was seemingly the star of the first day of the NFL Draft Combine, as he was invited by many media outlets to speak on various subjects. But when SportsCenter asked him for his opinion on Caleb Williams, he said this:

He’s done a phenomenal job just picking up the coaching. There’s a lot of new that came in. He just hadn’t played a lot of ball in this league yet, and yet he is a phenomenal football player, and he can do some things on his own… I think he’s going to be light-years better.

Johnson said

The head coach also revealed that he and his signal caller had to build their relationship through a series of one-on-one meetings. Now, he is happy that they are wired the same way.

Johnson hopes his relationship with Williams will help them unleash in ways that have not been thought of as possible before. Lastly, the offensive guru mentioned that they are just ‘scratching the surface’ on their potential.

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