There is a growing expectation around Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, with it being widely expected that a year three leap is coming. Whether it is speculation of Williams being a top-five quarterback or landing on the cover of Madden, the offseason has consistently served as a reminder of this expectation. While it might seem somewhat concerning to be piling such a high level of expectations on the signal caller, last year's numbers backup the expectation that Williams is set for another leap.
Former NFL tight end and current Chicago pundit Clay Harbor dove into the numbers, pointing out the drastic improvements that Williams made after having a few weeks in the system of Ben Johnson. It should also be noted that the quarterback has been extremely vocal about how difficult the first year in a complicated system was.
Came across this cool stat of Caleb Williams last season:
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) June 15, 2026
Weeks 1-9
▪️9 TDs 4 INT
▪️TD/INT ratio rank 19th
▪️QBR ranking 18th
Weeks 9-18
▪️18 TDs 3 INT
▪️TD/INT ratio rank 2nd
▪️QBR ranking 9th
Caleb was much better after getting comfortable in Ben Johnson’s offense. Now…
Williams put up incredibly elite numbers to finish the 2025 season and still is noting the improvements he believes are ahead after gaining more comfort in the system. The numbers serve as evidence that another leap expected in the 2026 season isn't out of bounds, but a fair expectation based on clear progression and the elite talent of Williams.
The biggest key will be growing chemistry with Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden, with each of this trio expected to take a leap alongside their star quarterback. If this is the case, there is no denying the potential ceiling of not only Williams but the offense as a whole.
Last Year's Progression Leaves Reason for Bears to Expect Obvious Leap
Caleb's numbers as a whole aren't going to jump off the page from the 2025 season, with there being clear improvement, but not the MVP-type production fans are now hoping and many pundits are predicting. Seeing the numbers broken down in this fashion paints a clear picture of progression, as well as allowing fans to project what this would look like in a full season.
theThis version of Williams would unquestionably take a leap over a full season and be in the conversation among the league's best starting options. With this in mind, the hype around hte quarterback appears justified and continued to build expectations.
It will be interesting to watch how much better Williams looks in year two of Johnson's offense and whether the level of expectations causes any struggles from the quarterback. Considering that Williams' best moments appear to always be when the pressure is at its highest, this seems unlikely for a player set up for a great 2026 season.
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