How Can the Bears Star Quarterback Elevate His Game in 2026?
During the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears saw one of their best offensive performances in recent years. They finished the regular season with the sixth-most yards per game and ninth-most points per game. The numbers reflected real growth and a new identity in Ben Johnson's first year with the team. While his innovative play-calling is a big factor in the team's success, the players would not have had as successful a season without it. One of the prime examples of this was Caleb Williams.
The star quarterback had a historic season in his second year. He threw for 3,942 passing yards, which is the most in a single season in team history. Additionally, he recorded 27 passing touchdowns, as well as three rushing touchdowns. He finished the season ranked in the top 10 for both touchdown passes and yards. His athleticism was also on display, as he caught one touchdown. However, his stats do not show the entire story.
Nearly every Bears game this season included a highlight play from Williams. He was constantly escaping sacks and creating large plays through the air. One of the biggest examples of this was the game-tying touchdown to Cole Kmet against the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago was also one of the best comeback teams in the league, highlighting the 24-year-old's competitiveness and skill under pressure.
It is easy to look at the results and see this season as proof that Williams is living up to the hype. While this is true, there are still plenty of things he needs to improve on. For starters, he tries to do too much when escaping sacks. This certainly does create the chance for the previously mentioned highlight plays, but it also creates unnecessary risks. This had led to a large number of yards lost and occasional fumbles. If he can be smart under pressure, like throwing the ball away when needed, he can eliminate the threats.
Another key issue this past season was his accuracy. He completed only 58% of his passes. This did contribute to his limited interception total, as he threw only seven. While it is great to throw the ball away and avoid turnovers, it also makes it harder to win. Overthrows and missed opportunities plagued the team and cost them points the entire season. Finding a way to increase his completion percentage, even by just a little, would make the offense more efficient at moving the ball and give it more chances to score.
Speaking of missed chances, Williams often missed open receivers. This was done either by struggling to read the field or by seeking larger plays. It is not uncommon for young quarterbacks to struggle with reading the field as they adjust to the NFL. Entering his second year in the system should help him become more comfortable when making decisions on where to throw the ball. If he can also balance taking risks with safe throws, he can better control the game. Combining this with higher accuracy only raises his ceiling by providing more stability to the explosive plays that we saw this season.
The 2026 season will be a crucial one for the Bears. They will seek to prove that they were not just a one-year wonder and that they are a legitimate threat. One of the first steps is to help Williams improve. This is done by reducing unnecessary risks, improving accuracy, and becoming better at reading the field. The talent is already there; now, if he can refine his skills, then he could turn into one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
