Caleb Williams is starting to hit his stride in Year 2 with the Chicago Bears, and the numbers back it up. Nearly 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six picks - not bad for a quarterback still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL.
More importantly, he’s leading a 9-4 Bears team that suddenly looks like a legitimate playoff contender. But not everyone is sold just yet.
Hall of Famer and two-time MVP Kurt Warner, never one to sugarcoat quarterback play, offered a measured critique on The Athletic’s “Scoop City” podcast. While acknowledging Williams’ growth, Warner zeroed in on a key area of concern - consistency on the routine throws.
“Caleb’s got to be more efficient at hitting the layups that are out there,” Warner said. “When Ben [Johnson] creates the plays out there… whether it’s a read or a throw, and it’s what I would call elementary-level, he’s gotta do a better job at making those plays.”
In other words, while the highlight-reel stuff is there - the off-platform throws, the arm talent, the mobility - Warner wants to see Williams nail the basics. Because when the playoffs roll around and you’re facing elite defenses, missing on the easy stuff can be the difference between moving on and going home.
“If he doesn’t,” Warner added, “it’s going to cost him against good football teams. When you have to play two or three of those teams, you can’t miss easy opportunities and think that you’re going to make up for that.”
Tom Brady, another former MVP and a guy who knows a thing or two about pressure situations, echoed a similar sentiment on FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Drawing from his own experience, Brady emphasized how critical accuracy becomes when you're trailing and the defense knows you’re throwing.
“The passing game is so important when you’re behind in games,” Brady said. “When you are down 28-3, you better be extremely accurate because the windows are very tight. You’re going to have to throw 30, 40 passes in the second half and overtime against a myriad of different coverages.”
It’s a reminder that in crunch time, it’s not about the spectacular - it’s about precision, timing, and execution.
One area where Williams’ development is still a work in progress is his connection with wide receiver DJ Moore. After a breakout 2023 season that saw Moore rack up career-highs in yards (1,364) and touchdowns (8) with Justin Fields, the chemistry with Williams hasn’t quite clicked. Moore’s production dipped to 966 yards and six scores last season, and through this year, he’s sitting at just 498 yards and three touchdowns - including a rough outing last week against the Packers that featured a single catch for negative four yards.
Still, Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle isn’t hitting the panic button. He’s optimistic about what Moore brings to the table and how the offense is evolving around Williams.
“He’s a very explosive player with the ball in his hands,” Doyle said. “Obviously, now getting to work with him, I really enjoy the person.
I enjoy who he is in the building, but he’s a weapon when you use him. And you know, he’s done a good job.
Every time we’ve asked him to go do something, he’s doing it.”
Doyle also pointed out that the offensive scheme is designed to spread the ball around - and sometimes, Moore just isn’t the primary target based on how the defense lines up.
“I think Caleb’s doing a great job of doing what we’re asking him to do,” Doyle said. “We’re trying to build these plays to feed everybody. It just so happens there’s plays in every game for all of our guys, and sometimes… he’s the primary and the coverage doesn’t dictate that the ball goes there.”
That’s part of the growing pains in a new quarterback-receiver relationship. Timing, trust, and reps - those things take time, and the Bears are betting that the payoff is coming.
Williams has shown flashes of why he was the No. 1 overall pick. He’s made throws that only a handful of quarterbacks in the league can make.
But as Warner and Brady both pointed out, the next step is mastering the mundane - the quick outs, the slants, the checkdowns. The stuff that keeps the chains moving and wins games in January.
The Bears are in the thick of the playoff race, and with a big matchup against the Browns looming, Williams will get another shot to prove he’s not just a highlight machine - but a quarterback who can win when it matters most.
Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT on FOX.