Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had the highest praise for Caleb Williams after their fairytale season came to an end Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears quarterback came up clutch once again with the team’s season on the line in the closing seconds at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Williams had 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 14 with his team trailing 17-10.
Williams got flushed out of the pocket and backed up nearly 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage before uncorking a high-arcing pass to tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone, sending the game to overtime.
Even Johnson couldn’t believe what Williams had done. He called the play “ridiculous” during his postgame press conference and spoke candidly about what he saw from Williams in their first year together.
“There are some things that you just can’t coach. He’s got that about him. He’s got a knack. He’s clutch. He does so many good things. He’s an eraser. I have plenty of bad calls each and every week, and he helps make it right for me.
“I know he’s feeling it because we didn’t win, and had some turnovers. He’s feeling it. But … we’ll remember this feeling, and he’s going to be stronger for it.”
Williams’ pass ended up just extending the Bears’ season for just a few in-game minutes. The Bears QB threw an interception in the overtime period that allowed the Rams to kick a game-winning field goal.
Williams went 21/35 in the contest for 210 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 58 rushing yards on 6 carries, spreading out some perfectly timed scrambles that kept the Bears’ offense chugging along.
The Bears may not have gotten to the final four, but Williams has made a believer out of Johnson and the City of Chicago as a whole.
