Bears News: Williams on silencing doubters: "My goal is to win and win big"

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 2 hours ago

CHICAGO - After the Chicago Bears only had one Pro Bowler last season, they had three this year - left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman, and safety Kevin Byard. Quarterback Caleb Williams is proud of his teammates who got in the Pro Bowl, although he also expressed that more of Chicago’s players should have been named Pro Bowlers.

“Being able to have more and have more next-up guys is great of us as an organization, as a team, (because), that’s kudos to coach and what he’s been working on with us because obviously we have such talented players and people that care here,” Williams said. “The work has been put in and those guys, happy for those guys, and I think there’s more guys that should be in that position, but to the guys that are, we’re excited for them and excited for that opportunity.”

It is quite remarkable how much the Bears have turned around this year. Last season was arguably the franchise's worst.

It marked the first time a head coach was fired midseason, featured a 10-game losing streak, and Williams had three different offensive coordinators. New head coach Ben Johnson has provided stability and engineered an offensive line that can protect Williams, ensuring the offense's success.

Now, the Bears are NFC North champions and remain in contention for the No. 1 overall seed.

“He cares so much about the sport. He cares so much about us. He cares so much about winning. He cares about us as players that you start figuring out him and you understand that when you’re on that 53, that 53 by 120, that’s his place and so being able to go out there, do our job exactly how we should and exactly how he teaches it and then when you get off the field, he’s one of the guys,” Williams said. “He’s a players coach. He laughs and jokes with us. He’s bumping us around and things like that. So, it’s fun. It’s enjoyable when we’re off the field. It’s fun and enjoyable when we’re on the field. But, it did take a little bit.”

Perhaps someone that is going under the radar is Chicago’s quarterbacks coach, J.T. Barrett, who previously played at Ohio State and a few years in the NFL.

Given Barrett’s playing experience, he has also been a mentor to Williams, as well as someone he can relate to, given how close in age Williams is to Barrett.

“He’s been awesome. Early on, our relationship and bond has grown. We’re laughing and joking all the time,” Williams said. “We’re similar, closer in age than obviously some of the other coaches and so, we connect on that level and then us having maybe some bumps in the road where we got to sit down and have talks and communicate to each other has helped us get to this point where that’s my guy and he’s been tremendously helpful to me and we’re going to keep growing that.”

Chicago’s journey to the postseason this year is reminiscent of Williams’ journey to the NFL - always underestimated and always proving the doubters wrong. People thought Williams would be a bust, that the Bears would be a bad team, and that things would not work out.

After officially claiming the NFC North title, it seems fair to say that Williams is a franchise quarterback, especially under Johnson.

“I wasn’t the biggest, I wasn’t the strongest, I wasn’t the tallest, fastest, whatever the case may be. I get drafted here, told that I’m not a special player, told that I’m not a good fit here, told that coach and I won’t work. I’ve (been) told I can’t win here and so, I know that’s going to keep going on. But, I do take a little satisfaction and things like that and being able to help this team, help this organization, be a part of it. To get to the playoffs and my goal isn’t to just get to the playoffs,” Williams said. “My goal is to win and win big and so, I’m going to keep my head down. I’m going to keep growing for the guys in this building, for the coaches and things like that for this organization and for this city to be able to be proud and happy to be fans and supporters of the Chicago Bears.”