Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson appeared very animated on the sideline as he attempted to coordinate a game-winning drive, with fans believing him to be shouting at his quarterback, Caleb Williams
12:20 ET, 14 Oct 2025
Ben Johnson was very animated on the sideline
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Ben Johnson was very animated on the sideline(Image: ABC/ESPN)
Ben Johnson appeared to shout "will you shut the ---- up" down his headset to Caleb Williams during an incident with the officials in their game on Monday Night Football.
Williams was able to put together a game-winning drive to defeat his hometown Washington Commanders, going a long way in proving his doubters wrong, as many believed the Chicago Bears made a mistake in not drafting Jayden Daniels back in 2024. The quarterback was criticized in the game, though, after making harsh comments toward kicker Jake Moody.
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At one point during the drive that saw Moody kick the game-winning field goal, Williams was speaking to the officials before the camera panned to Johnson on the headset.
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Johnson is then seen what appears to be him saying "will you shut the ---- up" while he's attempting to coordinate the drive. Johnson calls the plays into Williams, who is the only other person who can hear him through his helmet.
The camera had quickly cut away after Johnson appeared to be swearing, with lip-readers deciphering what he'd said after clips were shared to social media.
Johnson had looked animated on the sidelines after his Bears team led 13-0 before giving up the lead, with the Commanders being ahead 17-16, with questions being asked of Williams.
But in the fourth quarter, with the time ticking, Williams led an impressive drive to allow Moody to kick a game-winning field goal.
After the game, Williams said of Johnson: "I’m excited that I get to wake up and be coached by him.
"We believe in him, we trust him... The belief in him is there. We want to win for him."
Caleb Williams is enjoying working with Ben Johnson
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Caleb Williams is enjoying working with Ben Johnson(Image: Getty Images)
Johnson had said: "I think these wins, sometimes, can go a longer way for your program than those blowouts do.
"I think it says a lot about our locker room right now. They are really, not just believing but starting to understand that if this thing is close in the fourth quarter, someone is going to step up and make a play for us."
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Williams might not have had the start to his career that many expected, seen as a generational prospect after the Bears landed him following the Carolina Panthers' brutal 2023 trade.
Despite his up-and-down start to life in the NFL, Williams boasts an impressive 28-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio since he became Chicago's starter.
His play has been criticized for his tendency to look to play off-platform, but Johnson joining as his playcaller has seen him make incremental improvements.