Caleb Williams is a divisive figure across the NFL landscape. We all know how Chicago Bears fans feel about him. After several decades of mostly inept quarterback play, he is like a cool breeze blowing through a scorched landscape. He’s the savior. The franchise. Of course, they’re biased. After witnessing seven 4th quarter comebacks, a division title, and a playoff win over the hated Green Bay Packers, it was almost inevitable that Williams would get the royal treatment across the media landscape from Bears fans.
So what about people who aren’t blinded by team loyalty? Well, we already know what the media thinks. Executives for Electronic Arts made Williams the latest player to grace the cover of Madden. He’s the Iceman, the new sheriff in town. That just leaves people inside the NFL itself. They are always the ones who are most difficult to impress. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reached out to several of them to gather their thoughts. The info he got back painted a clear picture.
Williams is a top 10 quarterback.
Caleb Williams is already a top guy despite obvious flaws.
It is no small thing that actual NFL people think he’s that good. Those people get paid a lot of money for their opinions on players. Their seeing him as a top-10 quarterback means the Bears are in that crucial zone of a consistent playoff contender. History says there is no way you can win from year to year without stability at that position. The question is do the numbers actually back this assertion up? Yes. And no. There is a rather significant juxtaposition with Williams that remains unmistakable.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
| Statistic | 2025 Value | NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 3,942 | 7th |
| Passing Touchdowns | 27 | 6th |
| Interceptions | 7 | 2nd (Tied) |
| QBR | 58.2 | 16th |
| Sacks Taken | 24 | 6th |
| Passer Rating | 86.8 | 22nd |
| Completion Percentage | 58.1% (330/568) | 32nd |
| QB Rushing Yards | 448 | 5th |
| Times Blitzed | 260 | 1st |
This paints a pretty clear picture. Caleb Williams is unquestionably one of the most dynamic and explosive quarterbacks in the NFL. He is a master at making things happen. The problem is that he is not one of the most efficient. His completion percentage wasn’t great when he entered the league, and it hasn’t improved. It is a sore spot for head coach Ben Johnson, who believes stacking completions is critical to offensive success. Improving that is a top priority for the Bears.
This is the last hurdle to clear.
We already know Williams can hang with any defense he goes up against. He proved it time after time last season. The clutch factor is there. The explosive plays are there. It comes down to where he can do the boring stuff. Dump off a pass to the running back when the receivers and tight ends are covered. Settle for the five-yard curl when the vertical shot is taken away. This goes against Williams’ nature. He’s been a big-game hunter since he started playing the position as a kid.
Yet the NFL is not a contest of who can generate the most big plays. It is about who can play the chess match. Every move must be intended towards keeping the opponent on their heels, backing them into a corner until they have no choice but to concede. Sometimes that can be done in one swift strike. Most of the time, it requires a series of 10-12 smaller moves. Williams showed he could do that last year. It is just about consistency. He’s almost there.
