The Chicago Bears were hoping for a breakthrough season in 2024. Many believed the team would return to playoff contention after drafting generational quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick.
However, a subpar rookie season and coaching miscues led Chicago to just five wins on the year. Now, with an offensive guru in Ben Johnson as their new head coach, there is optimism that Williams can develop the way Jared Goff did under Johnson in Detroit. But one NFL analyst doesn’t have a bright outlook for Williams’ sophomore campaign.
Bears Projected to Move on From Caleb Williams If He Struggles Again in 2025
While there were some highlights, the overall season was a major disappointment for both Williams and the Bears. A 10-game losing streak from Week 8 to Week 17 completely derailed Chicago’s season. If a similar collapse happens in 2025, Colin Cowherd believes Williams may not be the franchise quarterback the Bears expected.
“I think this year, the Bears are really interesting. Because if Caleb Williams struggles again, he may not be the guy. In fact, he’s probably not,” he said on the latest episode of The Colin Cowherd Podcast.
Cowherd also suggested that sophomore quarterbacks have struggled in recent years and questioned whether Williams is at the level of Jayden Daniels or Lamar Jackson.
“So, rookie quarterbacks, I never think the team is too interesting because it’s going to be ugly, and you can’t make any stern judgments. Like, obviously, Jayden Daniels is terrific. He’s Lamar Jackson of the NFC—it’s over, we don’t have to argue about that. So, I think Chicago is my most interesting team,” he added.
Williams threw for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns in his rookie campaign, but struggled with efficiency. He finished 33rd in PFSN’s QB+ metric, ranking below Daniel Jones, Jameis Winston, and Mac Jones.
One bright spot was his ability to protect the ball. Williams set an NFL record for the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception by a rookie (354) and finished the season with just six interceptions.
His decision-making was solid, but his struggles under pressure and in sustaining drives overshadowed his ball security. When pressured, Williams ranked 32nd in expected points added (EPA) per dropback and had a third-down conversion rate of just 30.5% (36th in the league).
However, Johnson has a strong track record of revitalizing quarterbacks, including helping Jared Goff turn his career around. He has praised Williams, even saying he is different from every other quarterback he has worked with.
Chicago’s run game struggled heavily last season, but the front office has revamped the offensive line, trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and signing center Drew Dalman on the first day of free agency.
With these offensive line upgrades, all eyes will be on how Williams performs in 2025.