Ben Johnson Buzz Keeps Building as Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze Get Breakout Hype
The Bears are officially all-in on the Caleb Williams era, and their biggest move to make it work? Snagging Ben Johnson — the offensive mastermind who made magic in Detroit — as head coach. The goal is crystal clear: unlock the full potential of both Williams and rookie wideout Rome Odunze.
Johnson’s reputation as an offensive wizard has fans and analysts hyped, and the buzz is only growing. In fact, *Pro Football Focus* just named both Williams and Odunze to their All-Breakout Team — clearly buying into what Johnson could cook up in Chicago.
Let’s be real: the hype makes sense. Williams threw for 3,500 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six picks as a rookie, *despite* dealing with two head coaches and three offensive coordinators. He even broke the NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes without a pick. Still, he’s got some stuff to clean up — mainly holding the ball too long and eating bad sacks. But with Johnson upgrading the offensive line, he should have more time to work with this year.
Odunze also showed real promise in Year 1, posting 54 catches for 734 yards and three scores. With Keenan Allen gone, expect Rome to see even more targets in 2025 — likely stepping into a true WR2 role behind DJ Moore. While he doesn’t have Amon-Ra’s short-area quickness or Jameson Williams’ speed, his size and catch radius give him plenty of upside in Johnson’s system.
Bottom line? For the first time in forever, the Bears might finally have a real-deal QB–coach combo in place. But in a tough-as-nails NFC North, it’s going to take every bit of that potential — from Johnson’s playbook to the arms and hands of Williams and Odunze — to turn the corner in 2025.
Why Everyone’s Talking About Ben Johnson — and These Breakout Bears
