Caleb Williams is playing the best football of his career, and the Chicago Bears are 5-2 under coach Ben Johnson. That makes a deep playoff run realistic for a franchise whose last Super Bowl title came after the 1985 season. Here is the case for Williams, and the risks.
A Clear Step Forward
Williams is completing about 71 percent of his passes, up from 58.1 percent last season. His net yards per attempt has risen from 6.6 to 7.6, and he leads the league in QBR in ESPN’s listing. A recent Yahoo Sports column credits Johnson’s system for the leap, noting that Williams is making more of the efficient throws a contender needs while still pushing the ball downfield.
An Offense That Scores
The Bears opened with a 59-37 win over Carolina and have scored 59, 31 and 30 points in three full games with Williams. Last week he threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a Thursday night win over the Patriots, a performance that followed an NFC Offensive Player of the Week showing in Atlanta. Chicago also made an all-in move for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, according to CBS Sports.
Last Season’s Lesson
The Bears won the NFC North in 2025, their first winning season since 2018, and staged a big playoff comeback against the Rams. But Williams threw three interceptions in the game, including one in overtime, and Chicago lost 20-17. That experience helps explain why the focus this year is on taking care of the football.
The Risks
Williams missed three games and part of a fourth with a hamstring injury, so availability is a question. Minnesota leads the NFC North at 6-0, and the Bears visit defending champion Seattle on Monday, November 2. Williams himself called the Seahawks the best defense in football right now, and they held the Chiefs to three points. For another team chasing a first-time breakthrough, see our look at the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl case.
The Verdict
The Bears have a young quarterback on the rise, a creative coach and a scoring offense. Whether that is enough to end a four-decade title drought depends on health and a hard division. Standings change weekly, so check the latest results.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, Wikipedia, Sports Illustrated.