The long-term hopes of the Chicago Bears rest on whether Caleb Williams lives up to his potential, so it comes as no surprise the team is reportedly going to look at candidates with an offensive background when deciding on its next head coach.

"They're going to go on a search to find a partner for Caleb Williams, because he becomes the most important asset they have to sell to a coach," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday Night Countdown. "So you have to figure that they're going to want to get some type of offensive-minded head coach that can get the best out of Caleb Williams and develop him to the fullest potential."

Schefter also noted Chicago is expected to reach out to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at some point during the interview process.

He continued, adding, "Many people around the league believe that when the coach hire is made, that it will be made with the offense in mind and that that coach will have some type of offensive background, because it's the most important thing that this organization will do."

Johnson has been a highly regarded coaching prospect since last offseason, although he chose to remain with the Lions and chase a Super Bowl after they lost in the NFC Championship Game to end their 2023 campaign.

He figures to once again be a sought-after candidate after the 2024 season, and ESPN's Dan Graziano previously reported the Bears, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are all expected to be interested.

From Chicago's perspective, it needs to break the cycle.

Williams was the third consecutive first-round pick at quarterback it partnered with a coach on the hot seat. First, there was Mitchell Trubisky and John Fox. Then, it was Justin Fields and Matt Nagy. This year, it was Williams with Matt Eberflus.

The only way to break the cycle is by stopping it early enough in Williams' career with the correct hire at head coach.

Firing Eberflus during the USC product's rookie season gives the Bears the opportunity to do just that, as Williams still has plenty of time to live up to the expectations that were put in place when he was the No. 1 overall pick.

He has also flashed his potential at times during his rookie campaign and will still be working with talented playmakers in 2025 and beyond in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, among others.

Hiring the right offensive-minded head coach will help the Bears get the most out of those pieces and put Williams in a better position to succeed than he was in during the 2024 season when Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron were both fired.

And if that happens, Chicago will finally have the franchise quarterback it has searched for throughout the majority of its history.