J.T. Barrett took one of the most difficult jobs on the Chicago Bears coaching staff when he arrived in 2025. He would be the quarterbacks coach for Caleb Williams. This presented a challenge. Everybody knew head coach Ben Johnson would be the primary play caller. He’d be the one forming the most crucial relationship with Williams. What did that leave Barrett to do? He needed to be Johnson’s mouthpiece, relaying specific instructions to his young quarterback to ensure his development was on the right track.
Barrett revealed what his primary focus has been this offseason as preparations get underway for 2026. It isn’t some grand plan. All of his efforts are centered around one objective: to get Williams to rely less on the Superman cape.
“Late in some of those games, we were making some heroic plays … but it wasn’t necessary if we execute in the first quarter and second quarter. We might be up two touchdowns by the time we get to the fourth quarter.
“We can be efficient and take what the defense is giving. You don’t necessarily have to put the cape on and make those crazy plays because you already were killing them in the first three quarters.”
Williams led seven 4th quarter comebacks last season. He did so with some of the most ludicrous moments a Bears quarterback has ever achieved. While it was incredible to watch, it is also not sustainable. You can’t bank on making ridiculous comebacks every year. The Bears must learn how to seize control of games early. That starts with the quarterback trusting the system.
Caleb Williams has always been a big-game hunter.
His mix of elite mobility and jaw-dropping arm talent has enabled him to scorch defenses with big plays throughout his football career. It worked in high school. It worked in college. Of course, he’d believe it would work in the NFL. At times it has, but defenses are too talented and too well-coached to allow it frequently enough. That became especially true in the playoffs. Williams was uncharacteristically intercepted five times in the two games against Green Bay and Minnesota. Part of the problem was that the quarterback was trying to do too much.
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A perfect example is his final throw. In overtime against Los Angeles, he had the Bears driving toward a potential game-winning field goal. It was 2nd and 8 at the Rams 48. There was well over six minutes left. Williams had no need to rush. He had a checkdown to Kyle Monangai that would’ve likely set up a manageable 3rd and 4. Instead, he went for the kill shot to D.J. Moore down the middle. That moment of greed led to an interception. Los Angeles drove down the field and won the game on a kick of their own.
Barrett understands his job well.
After all, he was a quarterback in his playing days, too. He was immensely successful at Ohio State, winning Big Ten Player of the Year three times and helping them win a national championship in 2014. He understands the demands of the position and how such players think. That made him uniquely qualified to be the one who communicated with Caleb Williams. One proven method for getting them to improve is by staying on their case about specific things. Bill Walsh routinely grilled Joe Montana and Steve Young about footwork. For Williams, it must be about seizing opportunities instead of forcing them.
That means get the ball to the open guy, even if he’s the shorter option. Often, the best way to beat NFL defenses is to wear them down with minor jabs after minor jabs. Then, when the timing is right, throw the haymaker. Williams can already do the latter. If he can learn the former, then defending him and the Bears’ offense will become a near-impossible task. Sometimes it takes a while for quarterbacks of his type to embrace such a playing style. Yet the results are almost always beautiful when they do.
