Much has changed for Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears this season and franchise history is within the second-year quarterback’s reach.
Williams’ development under first-year head coach Ben Johnson has helped the signal-caller reach the cusp of 4,000 passing yards, which no quarterback in the history of the franchise has ever achieved. Williams needs to throw for 270 yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 18 to hit that mark, about which he spoke to reporters on Wednesday, December 31.
“I think for me, it’d be cool just [because] there’s never been one here,” Williams said. “I think I was brought here for those types of things and those types of moments.”
The QB added that he believes the 4,000-yard tally is one no one has ever hit in Chicago based on the inclement weather in the latter stages of essentially every season, as well as a fairly consistent philosophical bent that prioritizes the run game over the pass.
“I have a strong enough arm to cut through the wind, and I’ve been blessed with that,” Williams continued.
Williams has completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 3,730 yards, 25 TDs and six INTs. He finished last year with a 62.5 percent completion rate for 3,541 yards, 20 TDs and six INTs.
Caleb Williams Says He’s More Interested in Team Goals Than Personal Benchmarks
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
Williams quickly made clear that he’s more interested in team goals, which his numbers have also gone a long way toward achieving.
“The most important thing is winning ballgames and heading into the playoffs with some momentum and some good energy,” Williams continued.
Chicago went 5-12 in Williams’ rookie season. A win over Detroit on Sunday will send the Bears into the postseason with a record of 12-5 as the NFC North Division champs and the conference’s No. 2 seed.
A loss by the Bears and a Philadelphia Eagles’ victory against the Washington Commanders would drop Chicago to the No. 3 seed.
Ben Johnson Takes Firm Stance on Helping Caleb Williams Set Bears’ All-Time Passing Mark
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Johnson has extended the long tradition of a run-first offense in Chicago during his first campaign in the Windy City, as the Bears enter Week 18 with the No. 3 rushing offense in the NFL (149.4 yards per contest).
However, the pass has complemented the run game nicely, ranking 11th in the league just 0.2 yards per contest out of the top 10 (Green Bay Packers, 226.5 passing yards per outing). As a result, the Bears own the No. 3 offense in the NFL by total yardage gained (375.4 yards per game) behind only the Los Angeles Rams (No. 2) and Dallas Cowboys (No. 1).
Johnson said it “would be great” if Williams could hit the 4,000-yard mark, but added that the figure is somewhat “arbitrary” in the grand scheme of offensive football.
“[Williams] would agree with me when I say that our No. 1 objective is to win this ballgame,” Johnson said. “Whatever that takes, that’s our goal. We’ll see where it’s at, at the end of the year. That’s a tertiary goal, if you will.”
The Lions bested the Bears by 31 points at Ford Field in Week 2, dropping Chicago to a record of 0-2 at that point in the season. The Bears have since won 11 of 14 games.
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