The faith in Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears is palpable, despite their having only one year of success–the first year under head coach Ben Johnson–and the fact that they face several noteworthy roster quandaries heading into the offseason.
Williams showed discernible improvement from Year 1 to Year 2. Both he and Johnson remain focused on maintaining that progress toward the next level as a passer in the NFL.
Closing the gap from where he was to end the 2025 season could earn him some hardware.
Caleb Williams, Bears Land on Intriguing Watchlist
Caleb Williams Predicted to Make History
Williams and the Bears earned some offseason recognition for the 2026 campaign from several members of ESPN’s crew of analysts. Dan Graziano picked Williams to be the MVP next season.
The national insider sees “the arrow pointing up” for the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson is a key reason why. Graziano also noted that the team “arrived well ahead of schedule.”
Williams would be the first Bears quarterback in NFL history to win the award.
“Williams has that fourth-quarter clutch gene,” Graziano wrote on February 11. “Even if the Bears fix their defense to where he doesn’t need as many clutch performances, he should have plenty of opportunities to showcase his abilities in a tough NFC North.”
Advanced metrics already suggest Williams performed better than his counting stats, particularly his completion percentage, might otherwise lead fans (and voters) to believe.
Still, fixing that and the Bears’ 2-4 record against the NFC North could help his case.
Williams is currently a long shot to win MVP in 2026. He has the ninth-best odds at +1600, per Vegas Insider. Notably, Williams is slotted one spot behind the 2025 winner, Matthew Stafford. Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams ended the Bears’ season in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Hall of Famer and franchise and NFL legend Walter Payton is the only Bears player to ever win MVP. He won it in 1977.
Caleb Williams Can Keep Rewriting Bears Record Books
If Williams falls short of winning MVP next season, he could still make modern Bears and NFL history with another noteworthy accomplishment.
“Caleb Williams will become an All-Pro. There was a ton of good in Williams’ second pro season but still so much room for growth,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote, noting he expects significant improvement in Williams’ completion percentage.
“The Bears’ offense should return mostly intact in 2026, and that familiarity will be instrumental in their franchise quarterback’s development.”
Williams would be the fourth Bears QB to be named a First Team All-Pro.
He would be the first since Johnny Lujack. Lujack did it in 1950. That was before the AFL-NFL merger, which is the turning point for the “modern era” in the sport.
Bears Draw Super Bowl Prediction
All of that continuity and ascension, if it comes to fruition, could take Williams and the Bears to the promised land next season.
“Chicago needs to add pass rushers, but the foundational players are there on offense under coach Ben Johnson,” ESPN analyst (and former Bears safety) Matt Bowen wrote. “With quarterback Caleb Williams’ playmaking ability, the Bears will beat Josh Allen and Joe Brady’s Bills to win Super Bowl LXI.”
The Bears have two Super Bowl appearances, winning in 1985 and losing in 2006. If Johnson and Williams can secure a second trophy for the organization, MVP will be an afterthought.
That does not mean Williams would not have secured the regular-season award.