Rookie QB Caleb Williams keeps advancing even as Bears retreat

Somehow, despite all the Bears’ self-sabotage, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has progressed throughout the season and is headed the right way going into 2025. He appears not to be broken physically or mentally, and even as he recently lamented the team’s seven-game losing streak and 4-9 record, he did it with an upbeat tone.

He might actually be Bears-proof.

The organization has stress-tested that idea at every turn, squandering a season that could’ve been so much better as the No. 1 overall pick joined a talented roster. General manager Ryan Poles erred in entrusting Williams to coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron — both fired in-season — and sending Williams out to play behind a faulty offensive line.

At every turn, Williams has opted to “keep going, keep pushing,” and is putting together the best season by a Bears rookie quarterback. He has averaged 211.2 yards per game and has an 87.8 passer rating — both higher than any predecessor Justin Fields in any season — and has thrown 16 touchdown passes with just five interceptions heading into the Bears’ game Monday at the Vikings.

He is unlikely to catch Commanders standout Jayden Daniels for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but Williams bounced back from a slow start to remind everyone why he was drafted first. While there is warranted skepticism about whether the Bears can put the right pieces around him, the talent is indisputably there.

That’s the real reason the Bears’ head-coaching vacancy will be the most coveted in the NFL, even as the team must overcome its own reputation. The dysfunction of Halas Hall is going to be a major concern as elite coaching candidates use the interviews to learn as much about them as they’re learning about prospective hires.

Williams could help them sell the opportunity by finishing with a flourish. In his last four games, he completed 65.7% of his passes, averaged 240.3 yards, threw seven touchdown passes and had no interceptions for a 102.1 passer rating.

That’ll work, and if he closes with four more games along those lines, potential head coaches will probably be willing to overlook some other issues with the Bears for the chance to collaborate with an ascending player at the most pivotal position.

Williams can keep climbing irrespective of what’s going on around him. Him playing well is more important at this point than the Bears winning.

He needs to be more productive and more of a catalyst, though, than he was last week in the 38-13 loss to the 49ers. The Bears opened that game with five fruitless possessions and were down 24-0 at halftime as Williams sat at 27 yards passing.

He finished with an efficient 116.9 passer rating and 73.9 completion percentage, but just 134 yards — not to mention the game was completely out of hand by the time he finally punched back. Williams can’t control the fact that the Bears’ defense is falling apart, but he must put up more of a fight.

His previous game against the Vikings was an example of what everyone wants to see from Williams, no matter the final score.

He got the Bears out to an early lead. He deciphered defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitzes. He put up 340 yards passing and was dangerous as a rusher, too, with 33 yards on six carries. He played cleanly without being overly careful, throwing 20-plus yards downfield eight times and completing three passes of 30 or more yards. The offense scored 27 points, its most in a month and a half.

That’s the profile the Bears need him to fit Monday and beyond. All four remaining opponents — the Lions, Seahawks and Packers are next — are in the top half of the NFL in scoring defense and opponent passer rating. And this deep into the season, regardless of the Bears’ circumstances, Williams needs to show he’s up for that challenge.