It's official: Bears legend Brian Urlacher certifies QB Caleb Williams as 'badass,' says he's here to stay

SAN FRANCISCO — Few would be more qualified to make such a declaration, so it meant something when Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher certified Bears quarterback Caleb Williams as “a badass.”

Urlacher delighted in watching Williams propel the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff win this season, calling him “frickin’ phenomenal” in an interview with the Sun-Times ahead of Super Bowl LX, and believes the team found its franchise quarterback.

“He’s a badass,” Urlacher said. “When things go bad, he’s at his best. When [stuff] breaks down, that dude shows up. He can make every throw, just like he said.

“I was just so impressed. Unbelievable, and I’m so excited for the future. He could be there the next 20 years. He should be.”

Williams progressed in his second season, his first under coach Ben Johnson, and finished with a 90.1 passer rating, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions while throwing for 231.9 yards per game. He helped the Bears pull off seven comeback wins when trailing in the final two minutes, including a wild-card victory over the Packers.

He threw for 361 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions to beat the Packers and 257 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions against the Rams.

In the Rams game, he completed one of the most improbable passes of the season with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet on fourth-and-four with 18 seconds left to force overtime. The game ended, though, after he threw an interception in Rams territory and they kicked a field goal to win it.

“The amazing thing is they never thought they were out of any game,” Urlacher said. “They always found a way to win. Even that playoff game against the Rams, I never thought they were going to lose.”