Caleb Williams Lost His 'Goofy' Side as Bears' Ben Johnson Praises Maturity Entering 2026 NFL Season

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has taken a more businesslike approach to his third season in the NFL, according to coach Ben Johnson.

"I've seen a very composed person every time he steps into the building," Johnson said, per Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times . "This guy might've had a little bit of goofy to him a year ago, and I use that term with love. Now I see a more serious player and intent every time I'm around him. His teammates feel that as well.

"He's getting to the practice field early. He's making sure his part is taken care of. He's warmed up, he's ready to go. He stays after with the guys. He's taking a lot of pride in his approach right now, and it trickles down to everyone around him. It's a great thing. He continues to grow up and he's going to be a huge leader for us this year."

For his part, Williams said he hasn't changed completely.

"I'm going to laugh, I'm going to joke, I'm going to be goofy, I'm going to have fun," he said. "But my maturity level has gone up in understanding ... what I'm doing for the organization."

Williams faced plenty of pressure entering Year 2, but now he and the Bears are experiencing a different kind of pressure.

While Chicago isn't a top Super Bowl favorite, the team isn't a scrappy underdog anymore after winning 11 games and knocking off the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card Round.

The postseason as a whole showcased why Williams was such a highly regarded prospect going back to college. He delivered some special moments.

Much of the Bears' fortunes will hinge on him taking another step forward. He had solid numbers in 2025 (3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions), but the jury is still out on his status as an elite signal-caller. He was 13th at his position in Bleacher Report's ranking .

Williams seems to have a firm understanding of how much he's shouldering in 2026, in terms of both team success and his individual reputation.