Even though the Bears’ upcoming coaching hire will have a huge impact on his career, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams doesn’t expect them to seek his input.
But if somebody asked, Williams already has criteria in mind and knows someone who would check every box: Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
When pressed Wednesday on what he’s looking for in his next coach, Williams said he wants “a coach that challenges us, a man of his word” and more.
“A ‘discipline’ coach — meaning whatever his rules are, how he’s going to manage and control the team,” Williams said. “Another one would be just a guy that wants to win and help us players and coaches pull out wins throughout the seasons. . . . Just helping us and finding ways to win.”
Sounds simple enough, although former coach Matt Eberflus did the opposite of those last two things.
Bears president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles are more than a month into researching candidates, and the coaching search should ramp up once they finish the season Sunday at the Packers. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the consensus favorite, but Kingsbury, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and others will be strong contenders.
Williams didn’t endorse Kingsbury over anyone else. He was asked specifically about Kingsbury because that’s the only prominent candidate he knows. Kingsbury, who was Patrick Mahomes’ head coach at Texas Tech and coached the Cardinals for four seasons, was a senior offensive analyst at USC for Williams’ junior year.
“I know what type of guy he is,” Williams said. “Being around him, knowing him, asking him questions and things like that . . . he fits a bunch of those qualities that I said.”
The Bears interviewed Kingsbury, 45, for offensive coordinator last January but bypassed him in favor of Shane Waldron. They fired Waldron after only nine games.
Kingsbury didn’t want to discuss his interview with the Bears ahead of facing them in October but said of Williams, “Tremendous person, competitor, freaky talent. He’s going to be one of the top guys in the league for a lot of years. . . . Insane talent with some of the freaky, Mahomes-type throws he can make.”
Williams has had some highlights this season, but it would be sensible to pause the Mahomes comparisons.
Williams’ 87.4 passer rating ranks 24th among the 38 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 200 passes. He’s 18th in yards (3,393), 16th in touchdowns (19) and 33rd in completion percentage (61.9).
The new coaching staff must sort out what he actually learned under Eberflus and Waldron and in which areas they’ll essentially be starting from scratch. Someone with quarterbacking experience such as Kingsbury, who was a sixth-round pick by the Patriots in 2003 and spent five seasons in pro leagues, could be ideal (Johnson also played quarterback).
“It’s helpful, but if you’re good at your job, you’re good at your job,” Williams said. “It helps because you’ve been in a multitude of different situations as a player and [can] see it from a different lens. But as long as you’re good at your job, demanding of us . . . you fit the job. And just find ways to win games.”
Kingsbury’s Commanders, with rookie Jayden Daniels at quarterback, are fifth in scoring and headed to the playoffs at 11-5.
NOTES: The Bears held a walkthrough Wednesday, and their estimated injury report indicated wide receiver Rome Odunze (illness) and left guard Teven Jenkins (calf) would’ve been out. Interim coach Thomas Brown said he anticipates Odunze being available against the Packers.
† The NFL will announce Pro Bowl selections Thursday morning, though that’s likely to be uneventful for the Bears. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who made it last season and has two interceptions, is their best -candidate.
