There were a lot of highs in the Chicago Bears’ 2025 season. None bigger than the Bears finally turning out a top 10 unit across the entire season for the first time in forever. A testament to head coach Ben Johnson and his guidance for execution on not letting anything slip through the cracks. However, one big test for Caleb Williams as he heads into year three is the completion percentage.
Biggest Challenge Set for Caleb Williams at Bears Training Camp
Completion Percentage Pickup
Ben Johnson had a goal last year of Caleb Williams completing 70% of his passes that started all the way at the Bears’ first minicamp under Johnson. Williams obviously struggled to complete the goal, with it being his first year under Johnson, learning his complex offense. However, his completion percentage was a big talking point despite the Bears’ success, as it hovered over the 58% rate all season long. Now, Johnson has confirmed that it is a talking point once again.
Bears coach Ben Johnson wants to see Caleb Williams’ completion percentage improve. It is a point of emphasis for him. It will be tracked and he will be graded in practice. pic.twitter.com/nWnIUNr7fY
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) May 28, 2026
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Explosive Plays
No doubt that Ben Johnson’s time as a play caller has been all about explosive plays, but in a much different way over time. It is true that he likes to throw wrinkles into it like a hook & ladder, flea flicker, etc. However, his time in Detroit was all about short yardage with yards after the catch. His time with the Bears this far has been more about middle-of-the-field attack and the foundation that has been built with Caleb Williams, Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, and Rome Odunze, amongst others. The positives for sure far outweighed the negatives.
Again, though, because Johnson likes those explosive plays, the success rate is far more unlikely as opposed to an offense that likes to catch a defense when they can, but hold the ball and dink and dunk. A major factor in the Bears’ success was the 2025 draft class. But, it wasn’t this well-oiled machine at times that made Johnson probably stay awake at night, wondering what needs to be changed. One of those would be Williams becoming a lot more comfortable in the system and finding his outs more consistently.
2026 Season Outlook
It doesn’t look easy for the Bears to continue building off the 2025 season. By all measures, the Bears’ schedule is projected to be the hardest in the NFL. Now, I have never been a big guy buying into the Strength of Schedule argument because so many factors change throughout an NFL offseason. Coaches get fired, rosters change, injuries happen, etc., and it is precisely why you still gotta go and execute with what you got. Johnson knows that better than anyone, and with another year in his system, Williams is looking mighty promising to take a year 3 leap. Wide receiver DJ Moore was traded away, but the young core of the team remains. He still has viable passing targets in Burden, Loveland, and Odunze. A steady presence in Cole Kmet slotted in at tight end 2. Two capable backs that complement one another are D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Additional speed in Khalif Raymond and the rookie Zavion Thomas. The biggest question for the Bears is probably on the side of the ball, Johnson doesn’t control a whole lot of in the defense. If the Bears can get a sound defense that can take away the ball like they did last year, but also get after the passer and stop the run more efficiently, it opens up even more possibilities in a season that carries hype, but Johnson knows it can’t be done if Williams can take another leap and achieve his goals that he has set out early.
Main Image: David Banks-Imagn Images
