Going into the off-season, the rumors were already flying that the Chicago Bears could be planning a change at quarterback. Several players on the roster weren’t thrilled about this idea. They liked Justin Fields and felt he was making meaningful progress down the stretch of last season. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson was among the most outspoken. He respected Fields and clearly wasn’t sure about the idea of Caleb Williams being the guy to replace him. Like everybody else, he’d heard the rumors about the USC quarterback and his supposedly glitz and glamour personality—someone who was more focused on personal accolades than team success.
If the quarterback came to Chicago, Johnson made it clear he’d have to leave all that “Hollywood” stuff behind. Well, the two ended up becoming teammates and have spent the past three months together. Is Williams as bad as the cornerback feared? Not even close. Quite the opposite. He’s been a pleasant surprise. Johnson explained how well Williams has integrated into the locker room on The Jim Rome Show.
Johnson wasn’t done. Not long after that appearance, he popped up again on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. He took his praise a step further, calling Williams “special.”
GM Ryan Poles said after the draft that one of the biggest things he encountered during the evaluation of Williams was how much his teammates loved him. It was universal. There weren’t any dissenters. He came across as a leader but also just another one of the boys. It isn’t easy finding that middle ground. Yet Williams seems to have done it with ease. Part of it comes from his personable attitude. He is outgoing and not afraid to talk. Another part is his maturity. He understands his place. While he might be the quarterback, he’s still a rookie. That means he needs to understand respect isn’t given. It’s earned. That comes from listening to guys who have been in the league longer.
If the quarterback is willing to do all those things while also having legitimate talent? It is easy to see why Jaylon Johnson has suddenly changed his tune on Williams. The rookie appears to have settled any fears about whether he’d be a locker room problem. Next on the agenda is helping him develop as quickly as possible. Johnson and the starting defense will get that opportunity since head coach Matt Eberflus plans to pit them against Williams throughout training camp.
