BEN JOHNSON RESPONDS TO LIAM COEN'S COMPLAINT OVER CALEB WILLIAMS COVERAGE

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson dismissed criticism from Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen regarding media coverage of quarterback Caleb Williams. Coen had stated on local radio that national media outlets focus excessively on Williams whilst overlooking his own players. Johnson told reporters on Friday, 31 July that his team faced sufficient motivation without concern over media attention, citing predictions that the Bears would regress in the 2026 season.

Williams is in his second NFL season with Chicago and has accumulated 7,483 passing yards and 47 touchdowns across 34 regular-season games. The Bears won the NFC North title last season, their first divisional championship since 2018. Coen described media coverage of Williams as pervasive, noting that scrolling through NFL Network's website yielded numerous photographs of the Bears quarterback whilst Jacksonville players received minimal attention.

Johnson characterised the Bears as "number one regression candidates" heading into the 2026 season, suggesting that external predictions of decline provided ample motivation for his roster. He stated that Williams was accustomed to handling significant public attention. Analysis from media outlets and commentators has predicted a major fall for Chicago following their divisional success.