Caleb Williams Just Gave the Bears Something They Haven’t Had in Decades - and the League Is Officially on Notice
Let’s be clear: what Caleb Williams did in his rookie season wasn’t just impressive - it was historic by Chicago Bears standards. Over 4,000 total yards. 30 touchdowns.
Only seven interceptions. And he did all that while learning a brand-new offense, on a team that’s been notorious for chewing through quarterbacks like sunflower seeds.
The Bears went 11-6 and even picked up a playoff win - and the crazy part? Williams still hasn’t hit his ceiling.
Sure, his 58% completion rate left room for improvement, but when you step back and look at the full picture, it’s clear he carried this team in a way no Bears quarterback has in recent memory. And now, heading into 2026, the buzz is growing - because for the first time in a long time, Chicago has both the quarterback and the coaching stability to build something real.
The All-Pro Prediction That’s Turning Heads
ESPN’s Field Yates didn’t mince words: he believes Caleb Williams will be an All-Pro in 2026. That’s not just a hot take - that’s a statement with serious weight behind it.
Yates pointed to the natural progression quarterbacks make in Year 2 of the same offense, and he’s right. Continuity is everything at that position.
The Bears finally have it with Williams and head coach Ben Johnson. The offense is expected to return mostly intact, which means more chemistry, more timing, and more comfort for their young star.
And if Williams does make that All-Pro leap? He’d be the first Bears quarterback to do it since Johnny Lujack in 1950.
That’s a 76-year drought. Let that sink in.
Why Being an All-Pro QB Actually Matters
Outside of Chicago, people might not fully grasp the weight of that All-Pro designation. But history tells a pretty compelling story: since 1936, 51 quarterbacks have earned the honor.
Of those, 40 played in at least one championship game. 29 of them won a ring. That’s not a coincidence - that’s a pattern.
All-Pro quarterbacks tend to lead their teams to the biggest stages. Names like Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes dominate the list. Even more recent players like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have shown what kind of ceiling that level of play can bring.
The Bears? They’ve made it to the Super Bowl twice in the last 40 years - once with Jim McMahon, once with Rex Grossman.
Neither was an All-Pro. Imagine what this franchise could look like with a quarterback who is.
The Steph Curry Comparison
There’s a reason some are calling Williams the “Steph Curry of the NFL.” It’s not just about the numbers - it’s the way he plays.
The creativity. The off-platform throws.
The ability to change the game in a single moment.
Think back to that throw to DJ Moore - dropped right in the bucket. Or the 51-yard strike to Cole Kmet that traveled the full distance through the air.
These aren’t routine plays. They’re the kind of throws that only a handful of quarterbacks in the league can make.
And Williams is doing it as a rookie.
What’s Left for the Bears to Unlock?
For all the promise Williams brings, the Bears still have a couple of key boxes to check before they can truly contend with the NFL’s elite.
**1. Find a Left Tackle.
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Chicago rotated through four different left tackles last season.
Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet lost their starting jobs. Ozzy Trapilo went down with a serious knee injury.
Joe Thuney is locked in at left guard, but the blindside protector is still a major question mark. If the Bears want to keep Williams upright and maximize his growth, they need to solidify that position - and fast.
**2. Fix the Defense.
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Here’s the thing about Super Bowl teams: most of them play great defense.
Eight of the last ten champions had a top-10 unit. The Bears?
They ranked 23rd last season. That’s not going to cut it, no matter how good your quarterback is.
If this team wants to make a real run, they need to get back to the kind of defensive identity that’s been a hallmark of Bears football for generations.
The Bottom Line
Caleb Williams has already changed the trajectory of the Bears franchise - and he’s just getting started. If he takes the next step in 2026, he won’t just be chasing individual accolades. He’ll be chasing history.
A quarterback like this doesn’t come around often - especially in Chicago. The Bears have the foundation.
Now it’s about building around it. Because if Williams does become that All-Pro guy, the kind of player who joins the likes of Mahomes, Brady, and Manning on that elite list?
Then the Bears aren’t just back. They’re coming for everything.