Caleb Williams falls for "fake" Ben Johnson texts as Bears look for new head coach

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams fell for a lighthearted prank on Saturday. The prank involved a user impersonating Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and texted the quarterback. The exchange revealed Williams' genuine excitement about the possibility of working with Johnson.

The prank began with a text claiming to be from Johnson, announcing his decision to accept the Bears' head coaching position.

"Just wanted to reach out ahead of time before it gets released to the media, I will be taking the HC job," the message read.

Caleb Williams' response showed his enthusiasm for the prospect.

"I'm definitely excited for the future! Let's get this s**t going and turn it around and do what hasn't been done in years," the quarterback replied.

The exchange culminated in a FaceTime call that exposed the prank, with Williams handling the revelation with good humor.

Johnson is reportedly scheduled to interview for the Bears head coach position. Williams has already expressed admiration for Johnson's offensive creativity. He particularly noted a well-designed touchdown play for Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs against the Vikings.

"Just knowing how (Van Ginkel) is going to play it and then go and counter, I think (Johnson) has done that all year," Williams said on Monday. "It's been really cool to watch."

Bears' search centers on maximizing Caleb Williams' growth

Chicago Bears v Green Bay Packers - Source: Getty

Bears general manager Ryan Poles emphasized the importance of finding a coach who can develop their young quarterback. This follows a challenging 2024 season where "compatibility issues" between Williams and former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron led to the latter's dismissal after nine games.

"For a young quarterback, obviously there's an ideal fit," Poles said during his season-ending press conference on Tuesday.

He stressed that while quarterback development matters, the next head coach must also bring leadership and accountability to the team.

Caleb Williams, who threw for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions in his rookie season, has outlined his commitment to improvement. He plans to push himself "to exhaustion mentally and physically" during the offseason, focusing on faster decision-making and increased accuracy.

"Just having the right people overall in the building to be able to help grow the culture ... You can have the right people with the right scheme and make monumental jumps," Williams said.

While Johnson remains a top candidate, he's garnering interest from multiple teams. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Las Vegas Raiders have shown interest in the Lions' offensive coordinator.