>> The Chicago Bears are kicking off a new era tonight.

They're taking the field under new head coach Ben Johnson, who is coming in to hopefully turn around a franchise that's faced years of disappointment.

Spotlight will also be on quarterback Caleb Williams, who's entering his second year after and up and down rookie season.

Joining us now to look ahead at that season is James Big Cat Williams, former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears.

Welcome back.

Good to see you could OK?

So Ben Johnson formally in offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions comes to Chicago with some big expectations and a big price tag.

What do you think his biggest challenge is going to be with the Bears?

Well, I think his biggest challenge is going to be figuring out.

>> Exactly what Caleb is good because at least during the beginning of the season.

need to run things that Caleb is comfortable with roles that he makes.

Well, the reads, if he can handle so you can get the ball out of his hands.

Quick and going to be a growing process.

I don't think that week one will look like week 6.

I think they should progress as time goes along.

But that's going to take not only the 2 of them rushing and figuring out exactly what works.

But the team around growing as the season goes Any concerns about a first-time head coach?

Always because he's never had to deal with the entirety of the team as an offensive coordinator deal with the offense you deal with, you know, all different pieces of the offense.

But now your scheduling things.

You have to make sure that everything's running right.

Not only offensive Lee but defensively.

Special teams.

You're being pulled in a lot of different directions and this is going to be a first for >> been is Caleb Williams.

Of course.

You know, he came into the league with some sky high high first year.

His rookie year didn't quite live up to all of that.

What do you think went wrong last season and what you need to do to turn around this time?

>> I think last season as a rookie player.

I'm not sure exactly what went wrong in the building, you know, but you heard a lot of reports come out of the building as far as the different things that were wrong with the coaching staff, the the lack of ability to protect the player like that his inability to get the ball out of his hands.

Quick.

So I mean, these are things that they're focusing on now.

The Ben Johnson is going to focus on, but I don't know how much focus they put into these things.

His first year when he really needed.

And now he's going into another.

system and learning from scratch all over again.

>> Ok, so there is this three-part series on Substack by go long.

It's called House of dysfunction.

3 parts right?

They report having interviewed more than 30 former executives scouts coaches, players and they report that Williams wasn't listening to coaches change in Clay's, not listening in the locker room, skipping film sessions, whole bunch of stuff.

What did you make?

What do you make of reporting like that and what you're hearing come out of that?

Well, I think when you >> have 30 people and no one's willing to put their name it's something that I frowned upon a little bit because you don't know whether it is people that are disgruntled for some odd reason or if they're actually knew what was going Now, if they're actually knew what was going on in the building in the locker room on the field.

And those are some disturbing things because this is a guy that you brought in to lead your franchise and you need someone to lead your franchise.

That has that.

That ability to be a leader to ask questions on questions need to be You know, you hear about the he didn't know how to watch Phil.

Well, who did you talk to about watching You you have all these people in your back pocket as far as people that are willing to help you.

Why didn't you go to of these people?

So?

I think it's a lot all balled up into one.

And eventually it's all gonna rise to the top and everyone's going to find out exactly what went on book.

It's going to be a process and he's going to have to figure out how to shut out all this noise and become the player that everybody expected him to be.

>> Okay.

So the Bears they've also draft a tight end Colston Loveland.

How might adding that extra target for Williams I can help them out the field this Any time you're at it, I didn't like that.

That's that's kind of like a security blanket for a young quarterback.

He's he's guy that's going to be in middle of the field.

He seems to run good has an ability to catch the ball.

So, >> you know, a safety blanket that he can rely on when things break When they need goals.

You know, year short-yardage plays that somebody that's going to be there for.

>> So last time the Bears are at the top of the NFC North.

That was in 2018 when they secured the division title.

That season ended, of course, with the infamous double doink and that we all when there is double double I'm I let it go next But how do you think the Bears stack up against their division rivals?

>> Still, you you've got a first time head coach Green Bay is looking better.

Minnesota is a team that's on the rise.

Detroit is a team that seems to have the personnel, but they lost a lot of the coaching staff.

So you really don't know how they're going to do.

I think the kind of in the middle of the pack right depending on how they progress through the season will depend on how 4 they're able to go.

>> And the season, how far do you think they'll go in the season?

Big cat.

Wow.

>> 9 wins is I think a good season.

I don't know it's enough to get you into the playoffs, but I it's an improvement and it proves that they're on the right track.

Whether or not they're going to get to playoffs.

It's it's hard because like you said that this this vision is stacked You know, it's going to be it's going to be a job.

Never bet against the Bears.

I How important is it for them to win against the Vikings today?

>> first game of the season.

I think it's big for a personal outlook.

It's big for the morale of the team.

>> In the long run is just another game with the beginning of the season.

But, you know, it's Monday night football.

Everybody's watching no other games on TV.

So, you know, you want to go out and you want to put.

want to be the best team out there tonight.

So I think it's important to them.

But it's not the end all be there.

And if they a game predictions.

I'm gonna wear.

My bears had no one to go.

24 24 OK, write that down, everybody.

Go