Bears Make Controversial Coaching Hire to Mold Caleb Williams
New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has gone to work building a quarterback-friendly offensive coaching staff in his first 10 days on the job.
Earlier this week, Johnson pounced on a rising star in the offensive coaching world and hired 28-year-old Declan Doyle away from Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos staff, designating him as the team’s 2025 offensive coordinator.
Johnson also hired former Ohio State and NFL quarterback J.T. Barrett as his new quarterbacks coach, adding another relatively young voice to the room who will work directly with starting quarterback Caleb Williams next season. But on Thursday night, Johnson secured a proper veteran for his offensive staff.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears will hire former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor as their passing game coordinator for the 2025 NFL season, securing valuable experience that can help Williams.
“Taylor adds experience and expertise in Chicago, plus another voice for Caleb Williams,” Rapoport wrote Wednesday night on X.
Taylor has been coaching in the NFL since 2013 and spent the past three years as the Jaguars offensive coordinator, touting top-10 passing offenses in 2022 and 2023.
He is also a prized pupil of veteran coach Doug Pederson, who had Taylor on his staff for his five-year tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles as well.
Additionally, Taylor has experience developing a No. 1 pick at quarterback after working with Trevor Lawrence for the past three seasons. Lawrence threw for a career-high 4,113 yards and 25 touchdowns and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection during his first season under Taylor’s tutelage in 2022. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawerence talks with offensive coordinator Press Taylor.
Eric Hartline/Imagn Images Eric Hartline/Imagn Images That said, Taylor is not without controversy
The Jaguars offense slowly began to fall apart when Pederson turned over play-calling duties to Taylor in 2023. Pederson’s loyalty to Taylor also cost him a job – both in Philadelphia and Jacksonville, according to SI’s John Shipley. Whether Taylor will prove an asset to Williams in Chicago remains to be seen.
