By common NFL standards, Caleb Williams is having a solid season. Aside from his below-average completion percentage (58.1%), he’s amassed 3,211 total yards, 21 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also has five 4th quarter comebacks, which have proven critical to the Chicago Bears‘ 9-3 record. Yes, it’s not a superstar year in league circles, but for a Bears quarterback, this is unquestionably one of the best in franchise history. That might not mean much to people outside the city, but it feels like a legitimate step in the right direction after so many years of dumpster-level play from that position.
Most prominent names have said they like what Williams has done. They feel he’s learning the position at a rapid rate compared to last year. He seems so close to a breakthrough. However, there is one holdout who isn’t impressed.
Caleb Williams himself.
The Bears quarterback was asked by Kyle Brandt on NFL Gameday how he thinks he’s been playing this season. Williams didn’t try to dance around it. While he believes he’s handled the details of the position a lot better this year compared to 2024, the numbers don’t reflect someone who has arrived. He still has a long way to go.
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Caleb Williams is at a common crossroads for young quarterbacks.
Mobile players like him often struggle transitioning from someone who uses his feet as a constant part of the offense to somebody who plays from the pocket who only runs when the situation requires it. That isn’t easy for Caleb Williams. His greatness in college was defined by his ability to create otherworldly plays with his feet. The problem is that style of play doesn’t work in the NFL. Defenses are too smart and too fast. Head coach Ben Johnson knew this. That is why his entire goal was to teach Williams how to play the position as a professional.
It came down to whether the young quarterback was prepared to accept the changes. Many guys never truly move away from the style that got them to the NFL. They always retreat to their old ways when things don’t go well. To Williams’ credit, he has made a determined effort to stay in the pocket and trust the offense. His progress has been clear for weeks. The numbers haven’t caught up yet, but that feels like only a matter of time. Until then, he seems to be in the right headspace.
