After a season filled with pain and disappointment, it’s refreshing to see the Chicago Bears not only win but do so against the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field. Amidst the chaos and change, Bears fans can finally feel optimistic about their team having a true franchise quarterback. Caleb Williams has proven that no matter how challenging the circumstances—be it a shaky offensive line or constant coaching turnover—he remains a dynamic force on the field. His standout performances, paired with some eye-catching stats, should ignite hope for the future.
How a Few Caleb Williams Stats Will Create Hope for Bears Fans
In football, the best ability is availability, and Caleb Williams delivered on that front. He became the first Bears quarterback to start every game in a season since Jay Cutler in 2009, breaking a long streak where backup QBs inevitably saw playing time. Plus, Williams is also the first QB to beat the Packers in Lambeau Field since Cutler in 2015.
The fact that Williams was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL (70), and still managed to start every game is nothing short of amazing. He had his struggles, but still showed out and had the best rookie season any Bears QB has ever had.
Defying the Odds: Caleb Williams Rookie Season in Perspective
If someone had predicted Caleb Williams would finish his rookie campaign with over 4,000 total yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, most fans would have called it a dream scenario. He did just that. Notably, Williams tied former Bears QB Jim Harbaugh for the fewest interceptions in a season in franchise history—a testament to his talent and decision-making.
Caleb Williams finishes the season with
-4,036 total yards of offense
-3,551 passing yards
-485 rushing yards
-87.4 passer rating
-20 TD, 6 INT
-61.9 CMP%The Bears have their franchise QB.
The future is BRIGHT pic.twitter.com/yS7svP8jRL
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) January 5, 2025
The hope for next season is that Williams plays with more confidence and focuses on improving his deep ball accuracy. While it’s impressive to hold the record for most attempts without an interception as a rookie (326), it’s less impressive when the majority of those passes barely travel more than 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Ideally, the next Bears head coach will emphasize a more aggressive downfield passing game and reduce the reliance on screen plays.
Caleb Williams pass chart vs. Packers in Week 18. #Bears pic.twitter.com/meUdDJBsjB
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) January 5, 2025
Caleb Williams vs. No. 1 Overall Picks
Despite facing his share of criticism, Caleb Williams delivered one of the most impressive rookie seasons ever by a quarterback. Among the 28 quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall since 1967, Williams ranks first in TD-to-INT ratio, fourth in completion percentage, and fourth in rushing yards per game.
Now it’s up to the Bears to get the head coach hire right and to address the offensive line this offseason. It’s hard to have hope that the Bears will get it right because they never do, but now that they have a franchise QB, the time to put all the cards on the table is now.
Clutch Factor
Time and again this season, Caleb Williams carried the Bears in crunch time, only for the team to fall short. His late-game heroics gave the Bears chances to beat the Commanders, Packers at home, Vikings at home, and the Lions on Thanksgiving—but they came up empty in all those matchups.
Finally, the Bears broke through, earning a victory with Williams once again stepping up in a critical moment. The crazy part is Williams got a good look at the Packers coverage and changed the play to pass to D.J. Moore to set the Bears up in field goal position to win the game.
The future looks bright with Williams leading the way, and it’s hard not to be excited about what’s to come next season.
Main Image: Jeff Hanisch – USA Today Sports
