Our second-most important Bear of 2025 is Caleb Williams, who needs to show he has what it takes to be the franchise quarterback under Ben Johnson.
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class.
Every day from now right up through training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We’ll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.
We're down to the final pair and at No. 2 is quarterback Caleb Williams, who needs to show he has what it takes to be the franchise quarterback under Ben Johnson.
Background
Position: Quarterback
Age: 23
Experience: 2nd season
2025 cap hit: $8.9 million
2024 recap
Arguably no rookie player had more hype coming into the league than Williams after he was selected No. 1 overall by the Bears. Armed with numerous weapons at the skill positions, a veteran coaching staff, and a talented defense, Williams seemed to be entering one of the more favorable situations a No. 1 overall pick had ever been in. That wasn't the case. Despite showing promise and guiding the Bears to a 4-2 start, the wheels fell off for the team in every possible way. The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and then head coach Matt Eberflus while also dealing with injuries on the offensive line. The staff was a hindrance to Williams' development while he persevered as best he could. Williams played in all 17 games for the Bears, and while he set rookie records with over 3,500 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, he also was sacked a league-high 68 times. Williams made magical plays on the move but also struggled with his deep passes and holding onto the ball too long. Year 1 was a mixed bag that still has many wondering what Williams' future holds.
2025 outlook
On paper, the Bears did pretty much everything they could to put Williams in a situation that was more ideal than the one he came into a year ago. General manager Ryan Poles landed Ben Johnson, the offensive guru from the Detroit Lions who has been the hottest coaching candidate for the last two years. They then overhauled the offensive line with signings and trades, including landing All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. Finally, the Bears spent their first three draft picks on offensive players, including tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden, and tackle Ozzy Trapilo. With a new scheme, a coach that has a history of getting the most out of the quarterback, and quality players at crucial positions, everything should be in place for Williams to take a leap in Year 2.
Big question: Will Caleb Williams take the leap in Year 2?
That's the question of the year for the Bears and their fans. It always comes down to the quarterback and whether or not he can be the transcendent signal caller that has eluded this franchise for years. While Williams has plenty to clean up going into this season, he set the bar higher than any other Bears rookie quarterback ever has. No quarterback in team history ever had a season with 3,500 passing yards, at least 20 touchdowns, and fewer than 10 interceptions before Williams. Add in that Johnson and his staff are working to break Williams of his bad habits and play within structure, and the stage is set for a leap forward in production. Just a few days into training camp, it's impossible to tell whether or not Williams will succeed. He has the tools and the resources to get there, though, and much of the Bears' success will hinge on his development.
30 Most Important Bears of 2025
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Caleb Williams (No. 2)
Category: Football
