Last season, Caleb Williams did something remarkable. He led the Chicago Bears from out of the playoffs to NFC North champions. He orchestrated seven fourth-quarter comebacks. He threw 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions and cut his sack total from 68 to 24.
And he did it all while completing just 58.1 percent of his passes— the lowest completion rate among NFL starters.
That paradox has defined the Williams-Ben Johnson partnership. The production was undeniable. The efficiency? Not so much. But as the Bears gear up for the 2026 season, Johnson has a clear message: the accuracy is coming.
The 70% Goal That Never Came
When Johnson took over as Bears head coach in 2025, he set a bold target: he wanted Williams to complete 70 percent of his passes.
It didn’t happen. Williams fell well short, finishing at 58.1%. But Johnson hasn’t abandoned the goal. At training camp this summer, he made it clear: 70% remains the expectation.
“The solution to quarterback Caleb Williams’ accuracy issues has Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson bringing up a familiar number.”
The difference this year? Williams knows exactly what it will take.
“Just hit the easy ones when they’re there,” Williams said. “Be in rhythm with myself. Be confident in my guys, be confident within the play. Deliver a good ball. Deliver a catchable ball.”
“It’s Trending Upward”
At a Thursday press conference during training camp, Johnson was asked directly about Williams’ progress. His answer was unequivocal:
“It’s trending upward and that’s really what we want to see is it continue to get better.”
Johnson went into detail about what he’s been seeing:
“I just told him this morning, I thought the last two days, even though it was an abbreviated practice yesterday, they were really good. Red zone was a big emphasis for us last year, we got a few good reps of that yesterday.”
The improvements aren’t just in team drills. Johnson noted that Williams is taking pride in every detail:
“He’s taking a lot of pride on where he’s putting the ball throughout practice. You see it early on, in our warmup periods, to routes on air and it’s translating over to the team periods as well.”
But here’s what truly excites Johnson: Williams hasn’t lost his aggressiveness.
“He still hasn’t lost that stinger of being aggressive and trying to push the limits a little bit. I think that’s healthy, particularly in practice, just seeing how tight of windows we can fit these things into. There’s a good delicate balance.”
“He’s making significant strides each and every day.”
Williams’ Perspective: “I Know It’s for the Greater Good”
The relationship between Johnson and Williams has evolved. Last year, Johnson brought a tough-love style—raising his voice, being hard in meetings, pushing Williams relentlessly.
This year? Nothing has changed. And Williams wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I know we have a real common goal and it’s to find a way to make the Chicago Bears champions at the end of the day. So everything he says and what he says to me, I’ll do it at 200% and won’t look back.”
“That’s kind of how it is now. If he yells and curses at me or anything like that, I know it’s for the greater good of the team and so whatever it takes is what it’s going to take.”
The Bigger Picture: Explosives Over Efficiency
Here’s the thing about that 58.1% completion rate: the Bears’ offense still finished No. 9 in scoring and sixth in yards per game.
How? The answer lies in one word: explosives.
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor cleared up a common misconception about Johnson’s philosophy:
“I don’t think Ben has ever mentioned the word efficiency. We talk about explosive. We are trying to attack a defense.”
ESPN analyst Ben Solak described it even more vividly. In Johnson’s offense, the running game isn’t a jab—it’s a haymaker. The play-action pass is the knockout punch.
But here’s the reality: as good as that approach was, it can be even better with improved accuracy. If Williams can complete more of those passes—especially the easy ones—the Bears’ offense could go from good to unstoppable.
Where Things Stand
Training camp reports have been overwhelmingly positive. Williams has been dominant in practices, going 9-for-10 with five touchdowns during 7-on-7 drills on August 5. His decision-making is “much further along than it was last year”. He looks more controlled and comfortable in the offense.
Colin Cowherd, who visited camp, was “blown away” by a faster, slimmer Williams, noting the quarterback appears more controlled in practice.
The accuracy improvements are translating to the field. And Johnson is taking note.
“We’re continuing to see his evolution as a quarterback. The accuracy continues to improve.”
Caleb Williams
still has work to do. 58.1% to 70% is a massive leap, and even reaching 65% would represent significant progress. The drops from his receivers didn’t help last year—Bears receivers had the third-most drops in the NFL—and a study found that receiver error accounted for 15.3% of his incompletions.
But the trajectory is clear. The improvement is real. And Ben Johnson, the coach who has pushed Williams harder than anyone, is the one saying it out loud.
“It’s trending upward.”
For Bears fans, that’s the only number that matters right now.
The Chicago Bears open their 2026 regular season on September 13. Caleb Williams and the Bears will look to build on last season’s division title and prove that the accuracy is finally matching the talent.
