Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he examines new QB-play-caller pairings that should strike fear in the hearts' of opposing defenses ...
As teams enter Phase 3 of offseason workouts, with organized team activities dotting the calendar, we can start to see glimpses of how some offenses are taking shape. Through shrewd personnel moves and clever coaching additions, a handful of teams have assembled exciting offensive lineups that are enhanced by a fresh pairing between the quarterback and play-caller.
I took some time to review the NFL QBs who were joined with play-callers they've never worked with before in regular-season action -- and vice-versa -- and ranked the five scariest new combinations in 2025. The below list includes new coaching hires joining incumbent QBs, one rising young pro in line to start for the first time, one veteran free-agent signal-caller and one rookie with an extremely high profile.
Here are the five new QB-play-caller duos that NFL defenses should be most worried about this season:
QB: Caleb Williams
Play-caller: Ben Johnson
After an underwhelming rookie season, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick needed help -- and president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles went all-out to find it, bringing the architect of one of the NFL's top offenses in Detroit to serve as Williams' head coach in the Windy City. The pairing of Williams and Johnson, whose Lions offenses finished in the top five or better in both points and yards in each of the past three seasons, should produce fireworks for a revamped offense that is loaded with playmakers and protectors following an offseason shopping spree.
The front line -- which is welcoming veterans Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman to the mix, along with rookies Ozzy Trapilo and Luke Newman to the mix -- might need to jell some before it provide Williams with sufficient time to dial up explosive gains on the razzle-dazzle plays Johnson likes to feature prominently on the call sheet. Even so, the Bears should have enough favorable one-on-one matchups on the perimeter to win with or without gadgetry in the backfield. Last season, Chicago finished at or near the bottom of the league in passing yards (31st), rushing yards (25th), overall yards (32nd) and points (28th), categories in which Johnson's Lions finished sixth or better. Given how well Detroit torched opponents with tactics and trickery during Johnson's tenure as offensive coordinator, the Bears' combination of players and play calls should lead to a scoring explosion in Chicago.
QB: J.J. McCarthy
Play-caller: Kevin O'Connell
In his three years at the helm, KOC has worked wonders with every quarterback donning purple, including Sam Darnold, who revitalized his career by helping Minnesota finish sixth in the NFL in passing yards in 2024. So it follows that the Vikings' offense should continue to roll even as McCarthy, who missed his rookie year because of a preseason knee injury, takes over as a first-time starter under center this season. Yes, McCarthy arrived in the NFL as the 10th overall pick in last year's draft with a limited amount of experience (28 college starts), and he has not been able to gain much more yet. But the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder adds a different dimension to the offense as a mobile playmaker with the potential to terrorize opponents inside or outside the pocket.
I expect the call sheet to feature more movement-based concepts and RPOs that could make the young gunslinger a dynamic weapon in the backfield, meaning the Vikings' prolific playmakers should ring up big numbers while snagging passes all over the yard. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones taking turns as playmakers in a "catch-and-run" offense, the Vikings should remain a high-powered unit with McCarthy running the show.
QB: Justin Fields
Play-caller: Tanner Engstrand
Knowing how successful Fields was against Aaron Glenn's defenses when they were with Chicago and Detroit, respectively, it is not surprising that the Jets' new head coach tabbed the fifth-year pro to be his new QB1. The dual-threat playmaker is an explosive weapon with a 1,000-yard rushing season on his résumé and an improving game from the pocket, and it will be exciting to see what he and Engstrand, who will be calling plays for the first time, can cook up.
While Fields has a drastically different playing style than Engstrand's previous protégé, Jared Goff, I would expect the former Lions passing game coordinator to mesh his favorite passing concepts with a mix of RPOs and designed quarterback runs that showcase the dynamic athlete's big-play potential with the ball in his hands. Fields has a demonstrated history of success to build on with receiver Garrett Wilson, who caught 73 passes for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns during their time together at Ohio State. If the former No. 11 overall pick of the Bears can renew his rapport with Wilson and also develop a bond with rookie tight end Mason Taylor, he could lead a high-powered aerial circus to match a ground-and-pound run game spearheaded by Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
With Engstrand poised to add razzle-dazzle to the playbook that will keep opponents guessing, the Jets could take the league by storm with a balanced yet explosive attack.
QB: Cam Ward
Play-caller: Brian Callahan
The marriage between the No.1 overall pick and Joe Burrow's former tutor should add some spice to the Titans' 26th-ranked offense that lacked pizzazz and pop with Will Levis under center in 2024.
With Ward bringing the talent, tools and tenacity that reminds me of a young Steve McNair, the Titans have a quarterback with the "alpha dawg" persona to lead an eye-popping offensive transformation in Nashville. As a pinpoint passer with the capacity to drop dimes from various arm angles, the rookie should easily connect with Calvin Ridley, Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett racing down the field on crossers and diagonal routes, which will enable the Titans to showcase their QB1's elite arm talent and impeccable timing.
Moreover, Ward's superb passing skills will allow Callahan to utilize more pages of his creative playbook to punish defenses for overloading the box to slow down Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears in the backfield. Considering how Ward orchestrated dramatic turnarounds at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami, he could help Tennessee quickly become an offensive juggernaut in the AFC.
QB: Trevor Lawrence
Play-caller: Liam Coen
The Jaguars had 275 million reasons to bring in Coen to revolutionize the offense while helping the franchise quarterback finally realize his potential as a starter. The former No. 1 overall pick has flashed elite qualities as a pocket playmaker, but his injuries and inconsistencies have prevented the Jaguars from emerging as an AFC heavyweight. Lawrence is returning from surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder to repair an AC joint injury -- sidelining him for seven games in 2024 -- and while there is no target date for his return, Lawrence is "very optimistic" he'll be ready to go for the start of the season.
Coen, who is focused on improving Lawrence's footwork, brings a quarterback-friendly playbook and proven plan that helped Baker Mayfield perform at an elite level in Tampa. Though the Jaguars lack the super-sized pass catchers that helped the former No.1 overall pick flourish with the Buccaneers, they have surrounded Lawrence with a collection of speedy playmakers with exceptional ball skills who will make it easy for the fifth-year pro to string together completions and produce big plays on low-risk throws. That group includes Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter (this year's No. 2 overall draft pick whom the Jags traded up to select), Dyami Brown and Brenton Strange, who will serve as catch-and-run specialists in an offense that prioritizes YAC (yards after catch) playmakers on the call sheet. Given the Jaguars' firepower and Coen's play-calling prowess, Lawrence and Co. could dazzle as an efficient offense with big-play potential.
