Caleb Williams
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 14: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field on December 14, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Few played better last season than safety Kevin Byard, yet he was quick to give Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams massive praise even now that he’s on the New England Patriots.
Byard, after earning First Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod during his final season in Chicago, chose to sign with the Patriots because of more than just his connection with head coach Mike Vrabel.
“I definitely knew that, obviously if I wasn’t gonna be back in Chicago, this was my top destination to go to. Not necessarily just because of the relationship I got with Vrabes…I think the pieces that they have in place, with the quarterback, the secondary and all those things, I think it makes it very attractive to any free agent to wanna come here.”
NFL insider Josina Anderson added that Byard told her it was either signing with the Bears or the Patriots.
Even if he’s no longer a Bear, Byard still wanted to give some praise to his former QB.
Kevin Byard Sends Parting Message to Bears QB Caleb Williams
Kevin Byard
GettyKevin Byard III #31 of the Chicago Bears runs on to the field prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers.
In an appearance speaking with NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Byard didn’t hold back his praise for Williams.
“I think him being able to grow into Ben Johnson’s offense, it was great to see. And so I can just only imagine, what it’s gonna feel like and look like in Year 2 of Ben Johnson’s system. When he moves on the run, he’s more accurate than he is when he just, it’s the craziest thing in the world. I expect him to be one of the top quarterbacks, if not top two, top three quarterbacks in the league. And I think he got some Super Bowls, you know, in his sights as well.”
That’s some massive praise by Byard, especially when it comes from an 11-year All-Pro vet. He now joins Drake Maye in New England, but he’ll always have a special place in his heart for Williams.
Bearsszn
Former Bears S Kevin Byard had very high praise for QB Caleb Williams:
“I expect him to be one of the top QBs, if not top 2 or 3, in the league. He’s got some Super Bowls in his sights as well.” 👀
🎥: @Schultz_Report
More on Williams
Byard didn’t stop the praise there either.
“I think Caleb almost wants to be in those [clutch] moments. More than to blow somebody out. And we all want to blow somebody people out but that’s who he is. He’s a clutch player. He has a clutch gene that you literally cannot coach. Not to compare him to like Michael Jordan but everybody say Michael Jordan, the reason why he probably the G.O.A.T. because he has that gene.”
It’s not just Byard that thinks Williams is clutch, either.
“He rises to the occasion time and time again,” Ben Johnson said after the comeback victory against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. “It’s really impressive to see a young player like this be so clutch.”
Williams joined Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning as the only QBs with two passing touchdowns while trailing in the fourth quarter of a playoff win in the last 20 years.
There’s a reason why everyone calls him Iceman.