This week, Caleb Williams found himself at the center of the NFL news cycle after ESPN published an excerpt from Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. The section revealed that both Williams and his father were initially hesitant about him playing in Chicago. Their concerns stemmed from the Bears poor track record in developing quarterbacks, and the family reportedly considered options to avoid Williams being drafted by the team.
However, just a day later, the Bears offered a more encouraging storyline. On Thursday, the team released a video clip on social media that highlighted a unique detail: Williams has changed his footwork during dropbacks, an adjustment that appears to come at the direction of new Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
In the video, Williams is seen using a left-foot-forward stance in his pre-snap setup—departing from his previous right-foot-forward approach used throughout his college career and rookie season. For those who don’t know: when the left foot is forward, it aligns with the throwing position for a right-handed quarterbacks. This setup eliminates an extra step in any drop-back and allows for a quicker catch-and-throw motion.
The Ben Johnson Effect
The change is likely part of Johnson’s plan to fine-tune the Bears quick-game passing attack, a scheme that relies heavily on rhythm throws and easy completions. Johnson used a similar strategy with Jared Goff in Detroit, emphasizing short, efficient passes to playmakers. Interestingly, Goff made the same stance adjustment—but not until his second year in Detroit.
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While it’s easy to overanalyze practice clips, this small but significant tweak suggests that Williams is already embracing the fine details of Johnson’s system. It’s an early sign that both quarterback and head coach are working closely to build a more efficient and tailored offense heading into the season.