Nobody should retcon history. DJ Moore didn’t want Caleb Williams. He made that pretty clear before the NFL draft when he constantly encouraged the Chicago Bears to keep Justin Fields. One could understand the sentiment. Fields had established himself as a locker room leader. It didn’t hurt that he’d also just helped Moore have the best season of his receiving career. The veteran wasn’t eager about the idea of having to work with a rookie, even if he was an eventual #1 overall pick.
Those reservations showed up during the season. There were times when Moore looked frustrated with his young quarterback. Still, the two made it through without any sideline blowups. It appears their relationship has improved since then. Moore has a greater appreciation for Williams’ talent. However, the quarterback’s commitment to the game has truly caught his attention over the past few months. He told reporters that Williams is far more locked in than at any point last year.
DJ Moore said of Caleb Williams: "A lot of growth. You can tell he’s on his 'A' game every day because I know he probably gets it the most out of everybody because he’s the quarterback. He wants to be perfect in himself and the staff wants him to be perfect to lead this offense."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 3, 2025
DJ Moore can finally see the plan coming together.
Drafting Williams was only part of it. The Bears also had to fix the coaching situation, bringing in a top mind to help develop the quarterback. Ben Johnson was the most qualified by miles in this cycle. He is easily the most accomplished offensive play caller DJ Moore has ever worked with. It might explain why the wide receiver has been all smiles in recent weeks. He can sense what is coming together. There have already been flashes of the potential during OTAs and minicamps. The improvement will only hasten as Williams gets more comfortable with the system. Moore will only benefit from that outcome. He and Rome Odunze have a chance to form one of the most potent combinations in the NFL.