**The Bears Have Their Quarterback. The Vikings?
Not So Much. **
The Bears didn’t hoist the Lombardi Trophy this past season-but make no mistake, they took a massive step forward in 2025. Eleven wins, an NFC North title, and a thrilling Wild Card comeback over the Packers at Soldier Field?
That’s the kind of progress fans in Chicago have been waiting for. But even more important than the win column is what the Bears now know they have: a franchise quarterback.
Caleb Williams didn’t just flash potential in Year 2-he delivered. Nearly 4,000 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, just seven interceptions, and only 24 sacks taken after leading the league in that category during his rookie campaign.
That’s growth. That’s poise.
That’s a young quarterback learning how to win in the NFL. And when you lead seven fourth-quarter comebacks in one season, you earn a nickname like “Iceman.”
For the first time in a long time, the Bears aren’t asking, “Who’s our guy under center?” They’ve found him. Now it’s about building around him.
Meanwhile, Up North... Trouble in Minnesota
It’s a very different story up in Minnesota. The Vikings are in flux, and not in the good, “we’re retooling for a run” kind of way.
The front office has already hit the reset button, firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. And the quarterback situation?
Let’s just say it’s murky at best.
J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, was supposed to be the future.
But through two seasons, he’s barely been on the field. A torn meniscus wiped out his rookie year, and in Year 2, an ankle sprain and a concussion kept him sidelined again.
Ten games played in two years isn’t the development arc Minnesota was hoping for.
Now, according to league reports, the Vikings are exploring quarterback competition-and yes, that includes a potential reunion with 37-year-old Kirk Cousins. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence in McCarthy. And it’s not a great sign when a team is already considering alternatives for a quarterback still on his rookie contract.
If Cousins were to return and win the job? That’s a short-term patch, not a long-term plan. And it would mean another year of McCarthy sitting, which wastes one of the most valuable assets in football: a quarterback on a rookie deal.
The NFL Doesn’t Wait Around
What’s happening in Minnesota is a reminder of just how unforgiving this league can be. High draft status buys you opportunity, but not endless time.
If a young quarterback doesn’t show enough early, teams start looking elsewhere. The clock ticks fast in the NFL.
The Bears know that all too well. They’ve been through the heartbreak of first-round misses-Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields.
Each time, the team had to reset, rebuild, and re-explain their plan. But this time, it feels different.
Caleb Williams has shown he can handle the moment. He’s producing, he’s growing, and most importantly, he’s winning.
That’s the difference. That’s why Chicago enters 2026 with optimism, while Minnesota is still searching for answers.
For once, the Bears aren’t looking for the next quarterback. They’re building around this one. And that’s a luxury their rivals in purple can’t claim right now.