The Chicago Bears skipped a couple of steps last season in their first year under Ben Johnson, as the former Detroit Lions offensive mastermind led the Bears to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
While Johnson has gotten a lot of the credit for the sudden rise of the Bears, and deservedly so, quarterback Caleb Williams also took multiple steps forward in his second season and was a big part of Chicago's ability to win close games. After a turbulent rookie season and a rocky start to his second year, Williams started to find his game again late in 2025.
Now, optimism is high heading into Williams' third season. The Bears have very lofty expectations, and the growth of the former No. 1 overall pick is a major reason for that.
If Williams does continue to improve and cement himself as a star quarterback this season, he will be due for a big new contract extension. What that looks like remains to be seen, but the final number could be pretty lucrative. Mike Florio of NBC Sports compared his potential deal to that of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
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“When the time comes for Williams to get a new deal, the Mahomes number will drive the discussion,” Florio wrote. “Especially if Williams continues to be on a trajectory that could put him among the top four or five quarterbacks in football.
“We’ve already heard talk of Williams having expectations that would be more than eye-popping. And we also expect that Williams will make it known that he wants his contract not after the 2026 postseason ends, but promptly upon the opening of the window for a new deal after the Bears face the Vikings in Week 18.”
Williams didn't put up the most gaudy numbers last season, as Johnson maintained his identity of having a run-first offense. However, now he has a quarterback that can get him out of jail in some tough situations, which will make Chicago very tough to stop this season.
Williams still has to earn a big deal on the field in 2026. But if the end of 2025 was any indication, the sky is the limit for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
The Chicago Bears skipped a couple of steps last season in their first year under Ben Johnson, as the former Detroit Lions offensive mastermind led the Bears to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. While Johnson has gotten a lot of the credit for the sudden rise of the Bears, and deservedly so, quarterback Caleb Williams also took multiple steps forward in his second season and was a big part of Chicago's ability to win close games.