Latest news with #AmericanKings:ABiographyoftheQuarterback
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Broncos' Sean Payton Had Pause About Caleb Williams' 'Processing Speed' in Draft
National Football League Broncos' Sean Payton Had Pause About Caleb Williams' 'Processing Speed' in Draft Published Aug. 13, 2025 12:49 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Both the college football and NFL world were enamored with now-Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' talent going into the 2024 NFL Draft — but not every NFL coach was head over heels about him. In the book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback," author Seth Wickersham revealed a conversation that he had with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in the 2024 NFL Draft process, with the latter giving him a critique of the USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, whom Payton had doubts would "excel" in the NFL. Payton was "worried a little" about Williams' "processing speed," while feeling that there were "too many easy completions left on the field" and "open receivers that Williams fails to spot quickly," according to The Athletic. The head coach's primary concern about Williams was "existential," though Payton applauded the quarterback's arm strength. The book also noted how Payton has a "formula weighted on negative plays in college that informs his evaluations." Williams' number was higher than No. 2 pick and eventual 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, whom Payton and the Broncos selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. ADVERTISEMENT Williams dazzled the collegiate scene from 2021-23 (2021 at Oklahoma, 2022-23 at USC) with his dual-threat ability and raw talent. Many of Williams' highlight reel-esque moments were ad-lib plays. Of course, the Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 pick. In his rookie season (2024), Williams totaled 3,541 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, six interceptions and an 87.8 passer rating, while completing 62.5% of his passes. Williams also rushed for 489 yards. Chicago went 5-12, low-lighted by a 10-game losing streak, and has a new head coach this season in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Meanwhile, Nix totaled 3,775 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 93.3 passer rating, while completing 66.3% of his passes. He also rushed for 430 yards and four touchdowns. Nix helped the Broncos go 10-7 and reach the playoffs for the first time since the franchise won Super Bowl 50. Williams ranked 44th among quarterbacks with a 67.6 overall grade, while Nix ranked 22nd with a 76.4 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Williams was the first of six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 selections of the 2024 NFL Draft, with Nix being the sixth signal-caller taken at pick No. 12. Payton is entering his third season as Denver's head coach (2023-present), a stint preceded by one year as an NFL Analyst for FOX Sports and a 15-year stint as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints (2006-11, 2013-21), which was highlighted by winning Super Bowl XLIV. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Chicago Bears Denver Broncos Caleb Williams What did you think of this story? share
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ben Johnson teases big change ‘tailored around' Caleb Williams
The post Ben Johnson teases big change 'tailored around' Caleb Williams appeared first on ClutchPoints. The future of the Chicago Bears is partly on the shoulders of Caleb Williams. With the season approaching, the Bears have gotten some positive results from Williams during camp. Altogether, the Bears are looking to turn the page from a chaotic season. A season in which Williams was seen as an underachiever in his rookie year, though he was putting up decent numbers. Recently, Bears coach Ben Johnson lead in on what to expect from Chicago this year, per Harrison Graham of Chat Sports. Johnson said that the offense will be run in a way that best utilizes Williams to maximize his strengths. 'This is going to be, I like to fancy it, the quarterback's offense,' Johnson said. 'We're going to tailor this right around Caleb Williams. It will not necessarily be what you've seen from the last three years. We're going to find out precisely what our quarterback does well, and that's really what we are going to anchor on. ' Since being hired, Johnson has spoken highly of Williams. All this against the backdrop of reported disconnect from Williams towards the organization. An upcoming book, 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,' by Seth Wickersham, claimed that Williams and his father conspired to keep him from going to Chicago. This is allegedly due to how the Bears treat quarterbacks, and Williams wanted to play for the Minnesota Vikings. However, Johnson and Williams have collectively refuted those claims. Ben Johnson believes in a top-down approach for the Bears Johnson is an offensively oriented coach. He was like that with the Detroit Lions and wants to duplicate that approach with the Bears. Therefore, he is emphasizing Williams for a reason. He is fully aware of Williams' strengths and athleticism. He can pass as well as run, fitting for the model quarterback of the present day. Even with all the scrutiny, Williams managed to accumulate 3,541 passing yards as well as 20 touchdowns. Williams finished the year with a 62.5% pass completion rate and an 87.7 QB rating. If Williams can excel those numbers and the offensive line holds it together, things could turn for the better. Related: Bears' Caleb Williams stamped by Matas Buzelis Related: Where ESPN ranks Bears guard Joe Thuney after Chiefs trade
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL offseason power rankings: No. 15 Chicago Bears hire Ben Johnson to change their history
Other NFL team previews: 32. Titans | 31. Saints | 30. Browns | 29. Panthers | 28. Jets | 27. Giants | 26. Raiders | 25. Patriots | 24. Colts | 23. Dolphins | 22. Jaguars | 21. Falcons | 20. Steelers | 19. Cardinals | 18. Cowboys | 17. Seahawks | 16. Texans Before the 2024 NFL Draft, there was plenty of speculation that Caleb Williams wanted no part of the Chicago Bears. Everyone smiled and played nice when the team made it clear he'd be the pick, but the old issues came to light again this offseason. Advertisement "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," said Caleb's father Carl Williams, according to an ESPN excerpt of Seth Wickersham's book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback." The feathers that had settled were ruffled again with that comment. But it was also impossible to deny that Carl Williams was entirely spot-on. Chicago, which hasn't had an All-Pro quarterback since 1950, has been where quarterbacks' careers go to die. Williams' upside case died a little bit as he struggled last season behind a terrible offensive line and even worse coaching. The only good thing to come out of last season was that the Bears seemed to finally wake up and address the underlying issues that led Carl Williams to see if there was a way to circumvent the draft and steer his son way from a franchise that has never figured out the modern passing game. The Bears seemed reluctant to pay top dollar in its coaching search when it started, but eventually paid Ben Johnson handsomely to leave his job as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. Johnson is one of the league's most respected play-callers and the Bears hope that leads to a big improvement for Williams. The Bears also revamped their offensive line and then drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and receiver Luther Burden III in the second round, giving the Bears a deep group of skill-position players. Advertisement With an exciting offensive-minded coach, a good offensive line, a fun group of pass catchers and the No. 1 pick from the 2024 draft at quarterback, if the Bears can't get that elusive first 4,000-yard passing season, maybe the franchise is just doomed at the position. [Get more Bears news: Chicago team feed] While everyone has been quick to dunk on the Browns, Commanders, Panthers, Jets or some others for being among the NFL's truly dysfunctional franchises, the Bears haven't been any better. Winning a Super Bowl 40 years ago doesn't change that much, and the fact that the 1985 Bears are still the first topic of conversation in Chicago speaks to how bad the team has been since then. The Bears have won six playoff games in the 39 seasons since Super Bowl XX. The problems have generally started at quarterback. Since 1963, the only two Bears quarterbacks to make the Pro Bowl were Jim McMahon in 1985 and Mitchell Trubisky in 2018. Trubisky made it as a replacement. The Bears' record for passing yards in a season is 3,838 by Erik Kramer in 1995. Chicago, which was one of the NFL's original teams in 1920, is the only team that has never had a 4,000-yard passer or a 30-touchdown season either. Last season Williams had 3,541 yards, and many of his surface stats were fine. He had some exciting flashes as a rookie, like when he almost rallied the Bears to a comeback win in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Williams also held the ball way too long, trying to do too much, a main reason he led the NFL with 68 sacks taken. Williams was fine, and it didn't help the perception of him that No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels was far ahead and an instant superstar. Advertisement The Bears are again one of the darlings of the offseason and a popular pick to have a breakthrough, both on the team level and with their young quarterback. Now they have to actually do it. Johnson said one of the reasons he took the Chicago job was to work with Williams. He understands all of the history going against him and Williams, and he's undaunted. 'I love it. I love it. I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative,' Johnson said. 'That's where great stories are written." Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears talks with head coach Ben Johnson during an offseason practice. (Photo by) (Michael Reaves via Getty Images) Offseason grade Make all the jokes about the Bears being back-to-back offseason champs. Last year everyone gushed about the Bears' moves, forgetting that coaching and offensive line play matters too. This year the Bears had another impressive offseason on paper. The coaching was presumably fixed with Ben Johnson coming aboard. The offensive line got a complete makeover. Center Drew Dalman was signed from the Falcons for $42 million over three years. The Bears traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and both have been Pro Bowl performers. Chicago also signed some defensive help with pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo ($48 million over three years) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett ($42.75 million over three years). That's how you improve both lines. The draft got good reviews, with the team adding to Caleb Williams' weapons with tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and receiver Luther Burden III in the second. There weren't any significant losses either. It would be a surprise if this set of moves don't lead to a notable improvement. Advertisement Grade: A Quarterback report Caleb Williams was uneven as a rookie, with his base stats (20 touchdowns, six interceptions) belying that there was a lot to work on within his game. Were the issues due to Williams' flaws or poor coaching? We should find out more this season. Ben Johnson is working with Williams on everything, including better body language, which was bad at times last season as he was getting hit and the Bears were losing. He also took way too many sacks and was inaccurate on deep throws. Johnson ran a tremendous offense with the Lions, finishing among the NFL's top five in points scored and yards gained in each of his three seasons as offensive coordinator. Last season the Lions scored 564 points, which led the NFL and was the fourth-most in league history. But Johnson acknowledges the Bears have different personnel, starting with the quarterback, and his approach has to change with it. Advertisement "He is a phenomenal talent that had, as many quarterbacks do, an up-and-down rookie year," Johnson said when he was introduced as the team's new head coach, via "Where I see my role is as a supporter of him. This offense will be calibrated with him in mind. We're going to build this thing — this is not simply a dropping of a previous playbook and starting there. No, we're ripping this thing down to the studs, and we're going to build it out with him first and foremost, and then the pieces around him next. I really look forward to challenging him and pushing him, as I said before, to continue to grow and develop." BetMGM odds breakdown From Yahoo's Ben Fawkes: 'With a new head coach in Ben Johnson and additions on offense (drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, added Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman on o-line), the pieces are in place for second-year QB Caleb Williams to take a leap. Make no mistake: This team will go only as far as Williams takes them. The Bears are a big underdog (+155) to make the playoffs at BetMGM and their win total of 8.5 is shaded to the under, so oddsmakers and the betting public think a wild-card berth may still be a year away. It doesn't help that Chicago plays in arguably the league's best division in the NFC North. The Bears are projected to be favored in only seven games this season." Yahoo's fantasy take From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "The market has been cool to Colston Loveland so far, and I think that's the right call. Although Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers both had dynamic rookie years in the past two seasons, it's likely a mistake to apply their success to the Chicago situation. Consider that Loveland steps into a crowded situation for pass catchers (the Bears have a slew of good wideouts and even a respectable other tight end in Cole Kmet). And we still need some proof that Caleb Williams can play in this league — he had a horrible sack problem last year, and generally sack problems are mostly about the quarterback, not other things. Even if I wind up drafting two tight ends on some roster builds, Loveland is not a player I'm targeting." Advertisement Stat to remember The Bears allowed 5.9 yards per play last season. The only team to give up more per play was Carolina, a horrible defense that allowed the most points in NFL history. It was a clear step back for a unit that came into last season with high hopes. Chicago's defense had a strong second half in 2023, which was somewhat comically attributed to trading for defensive end Montez Sweat during the season, and it crashed a bit last season. In 2023, the Bears allowed 27.3 points in the eight games before trading for Sweat and 17.9 in the nine games after the deal. Then last season Chicago allowed 21.8 points per game and 354.2 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the NFL. The Bears were second to last in net yards per pass attempt allowed, as the pass rush dried up. The Bears added some pieces up front to their defense, and the secondary was steady last season, so perhaps there's a rebound coming with former Saints head coach Dennis Allen getting back to what he does best as Chicago's new defensive coordinator. There has been plenty of talk about the Bears' offense this offseason and rightfully so, but Chicago probably won't be a playoff contender if its defense isn't better, regardless of how many strides its offense makes. Burning question How will the Bears split up touches? Unless Ben Johnson is seriously creative, there still remains just one ball in play for each NFL offense. That presents an issue. How will the Bears keep all their skill-position players happy? DJ Moore looks like the No. 1 option, though he won't be a target hog like Malik Nabers or CeeDee Lamb. He'll need to share first with Rome Odunze, the ninth overall pick of last year's draft who had a fairly quiet rookie season but plenty of potential. There is also Luther Burden III, who might not see the field much if the Bears rely on two tight end sets with rookie Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Burden missed time in the offseason program due to a soft tissue injury, which seemed to irk Johnson. And don't forget that the Lions loved running the ball with Johnson in charge. That means someone among D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson or rookie Kyle Monangai — maybe all three in a fairly unimpressive running back room — could be a big part of the offense too. Having plenty of capable offensive players is a good problem to have, and it will be interesting to see how the pie is split up. Advertisement Best-case scenario Maybe the Bears need an injection of swagger. Ben Johnson came in swinging when he was hired, as he explained wanting to stay in the NFC North. "And to be quite frank with ya, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year," Johnson said, referring to the Packers' head coach. It's a lot easier for a coach to win the news conference and the offseason than win games in the fall. But a few months after Johnson was a highly coveted head-coaching candidate — he was last year too before backing out and staying with Detroit — the Bears have no reason to believe they made the wrong hire. It seems like Johnson's transition to being a head coach is going well. Plenty of NFL Coach of the Year winners have been rookies who take over after the previous coach was dragging the franchise down, and the turnaround leads to a playoff berth and impresses voters. It's easy to see Johnson in that role, helping Williams to a big season, a talented Bears roster to the postseason and perhaps an NFC North title if everything breaks right. Williams can't even be discounted as a long-shot MVP candidate this season (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are recent MVPs who won in their second seasons). If this all hits for Chicago, it might hit really big. Advertisement Nightmare scenario Through an all-time heist of a trade with the Panthers, the Bears positioned themselves perfectly to take Caleb Williams with the first overall pick of last year's draft, the first time they'd selected first since 1947. They got a supreme prospect who could lift them out of a decades-long quarterback rut. But what if Williams isn't great? No quarterback should be judged after only two seasons. But it's not like the Bears haven't done a lot to put Williams in a good situation for Year 2. If Williams struggles this season when he's surrounded by Ben Johnson, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, what's next year's move? There wouldn't be many viable excuses for Williams, unless injuries hit hard this season. And if we get to the end of Williams' second season and he doesn't look like a viable franchise quarterback — not necessarily a finished product and a star, but promising enough that everyone understands the arrow is clearly pointed up — that would be alarming. The Bears have spent a lot of resources to get the most out of Williams. They need to see tangible progress. The crystal ball says The Bears are the first NFC North team to appear on the rankings countdown, but the toughest division in the league isn't separated by that much. It feels like any team could finish first (and any team could finish last as well). Caleb Williams will have a nice growth season. Ben Johnson is a sharp offensive mind and Williams has plenty of talent and a good cast around him. But it's possible for the Bears to be much better, look like they're on the right path and still finish last. The division is that good. Let's say the Bears stay in playoff contention until late in the season but fall short, and then Chicago goes into the 2026 season as one of the more hyped teams in the NFL ... a role it should be used to by now.
New York Post
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Caleb Williams spotted with Madelyn Cline after Bears QB's breakup rumors
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and actress Madelyn Cline made waves on social media after they were spotted together at Summer Smash music festival in Illinois this weekend. Williams — who was at the center of breakup rumors with his high school sweetheart Alina Thyregod last month — and Cline were dancing in the same circle during Sexy Redd's set Saturday at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, as seen in a social media video. The former first overall pick by Chicago in the 2024 NFL Draft and the 'Outer Banks' star, who appeared to be with a group of mutual friends, didn't display any PDA together in the video. Advertisement Last month, Williams made headlines after he attended the star-studded F1 Miami Grand Prix weekend without Thyregod, which stirred buzz that the couple had split. Advertisement Around that time, Williams was in the news for an excerpt in Seth Wickersham's new book, 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,' which claims his father, Carl Williams 'went to great lengths to try to circumvent' the [2024] NFL draft in order to give his son the freedom to choose where he wanted to begin his pro career. 4 Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and actress Madeline Cline were spotted in the same circle at Summer Smash music festival in Illinois on June 21, 2025. TikTok/Masianbro 4 Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and actress Madeline Cline were spotted in the same circle at Summer Smash music festival in Illinois on June 21, 2025. TikTok/gavbingen The younger Williams later addressed the book and emphasized his commitment to the organization, saying 'I love being here.' Advertisement Thyregod seemingly removed any trace of Williams from her social media. Williams has yet to address the rumors about their relationship. The former USC quarterback commemorated the couple's one-year anniversary last October — six months after their red carpet debut at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. Advertisement 4 Caleb Williams and Alina Thyregod before the 2024 NFL Draft. TikTok/Alina Thyregod It was their first public appearance together, despite Williams posting her on his social media in late 2023. Williams enjoyed his first NFL offseason before Ben Johnson's inaugural season as head coach. Rookies reported to Halas Hall for training camp last Friday, while veterans arrived on Sunday. 4 Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass during NFL football practice at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, June 4, 2025. AP Williams showed flashes last season, despite being sacked a league-high 68 times and the team finishing 5-12. In 2024, he completed 62.5 percent of his passes with 20 touchdown passes and six interceptions. The Bears open the 2025 season against the Vikings in Chicago on Sept. 8.
New York Post
17-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Bears coach Matt Eberflus finally responds to Caleb Williams tape controversy
Matt Eberflus made many mistakes as the Bears' head coach, but there's one that he's disputing. 'In the development of the quarterback position, and really all positions at my time with the Bears, we always had daily, coached film sessions,' Eberflus said on 'The Doomsday Podcast' to host Ed Werder. 'That was all through the entire year. So, that's what I observed and that's where it was.' This comes after it was reported that Chicago's then-rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams would watch game and practice film with no guidance from his coaching staff. 3 Matt Eberflus speaks with Ed Werder on 'The Doomsday Podcast' and addresses claims that Caleb Williams received no help in film sessions. The Doomsday Podcast 'No one tells me what to watch,' Williams told his dad, Carl, according to ESPN. 'I just turn it on.' Williams, and especially his father, reportedly wanted no part in heading to the Bears in the 2024 draft because of their infamous history with quarterbacks — rarely ever building any promising franchise cornerstone at the position. 3 Caleb Williams will be under new coaching in his second NFL season. AP 'I don't want my son playing for the Bears,' Carl told several agents in 2024, as reported by ESPN from Seth Wickersham's upcoming book 'American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.' 'Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron,' Wickersham quoted Caleb Williams saying in the book. Well, the Williamses were onto something as Eberflus and Waldron were fired midseason 3 Matt Eberflus was fired from the Bears head coaching position in November 2024. AP A disconnect was clearly present with the quarterback and his coaches, as seen on the field and with Eberflus' most recent comment addressing the film-watching criticisms. Williams struggled with the coaching carousel and the revolving-door-esque linemen in front of him in his rookie season, as he was sacked a league-high 68 times. But with a revamped offensive line and former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson taking over as head coach, the exciting flashes seen by Williams at times last season could very well become a more regular occurrence this year. As for Eberflus, he's heading into his first season as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator as he hopes to revitalize his coaching career — without any reports surrounding his coaching practices or any responsibilities to develop a franchise quarterback.
