Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is entering a pivotal sophomore campaign in which he is under considerable pressure to show legitimate improvement after an uneven rookie season.
It's not that Williams was bad in 2024. He threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while also rushing for 489 yards. However, his accuracy left a bit to be desired, and he was sacked a league-high 68 times.
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While the Bears' offensive line certainly deserves blame for Williams hitting the turf so much during his debut campaign, the former No. 1 overall pick has also been lambasted for holding onto the ball far too long, an issue that has also surfaced in preseason and training camp.
So, should Williams actually be worried about his future in Chicago? Should he actually be concerned about backup quarterback Tyson Bagent?
Well, former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez is urging Bears head coach Ben Johnson to employ a rather odd strategy with Williams, suggesting that Johnson tries to make Williams envious of Bagent.
"I really think Ben is going to push him in the right way to get him to perform," Sanchez said on the Rich Eisen Show. "And that's part of it. As a coach, you're part psychologist, not just a teacher. You've got to understand how to connect with these guys ... 'how can I get [Williams] to get a little angry without getting reckless? ... How do I get this guy to get juiced up? ... Do I have to love up Tyson Bagent so he gets a little jealous?'"
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Bagent recently signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension with Chicago, so he will be around for the foreseeable future. But is he actually a threat to Williams?
Probably not, but Sanchez seems to just be hinting at Johnson lighting a fire under Williams if he does not play up to par during the early stages of the season. And to be quite frank, Johnson does not seem like he would be shy about benching Williams at all if he doesn't perform up to his standards.
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