The nightmare that was the 2024 Chicago Bears season is over. Before the transactional period starts and the roster changes begin, we will recap the seasons of most of the 53-man roster. Next up: We’re looking at the 2024 season of quarterback Caleb Williams.
Caleb Williams’ 2024 Snapshot
Caleb Williams’ rookie season is in the books, featuring no shortage of peaks and valleys. Williams’ rookie numbers weren’t just the best in franchise history for rookies, they were among the best, period. His 3,541 passing yards ranked fifth-best in franchise history. His 20 passing touchdowns ranked 12th. His passer rating was seventh-best, and his interception rate was the best. Williams also finished the season having taken 68 sacks, the most in the league in 2024.
His work in the clutch was phenomenal, with flashes of brilliance repeatedly displayed in the two-minute drill. However, his work in the first quarter was repeatedly miserable.
“I love the flashes that he showed,” Bears GM Ryan Poles said (via the Tribune). “I loved the two-minute drills and his ability to put the team in a position to win games multiple times this season. That’s a championship-caliber trait.”
© Bob Kupbens-Imagn ImagesHe beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, he nearly beat them at Soldier Field, and he played well against all of the competition the NFC North had to offer this past season. He also laid a few eggs along the way. Williams’ rookie season featured plenty of flashes of the greatness Bears fans have longed for, but he knows he has a long way to go.
“I knew that there was going to be a lot that I had to learn in a fast amount of time to be able to go out there, play and try and play well, play efficient, play efficient football and try to win games, so I knew there was going to be a tremendous amount and there’s still a tremendous amount,” Williams said in his final press conference of the season last month. “I’m really excited about that.”
All in all, Williams’ rookie campaign was the right amount of promising to believe that Chicago has found their franchise quarterback, with just enough cold water to understand that he and new head coach and offensive play-caller Ben Johnson have plenty of work to do.
By the Numbers
Completions/Attempts: 351/562 (62.5%) Passing Yards: 3,541 Passing Touchdowns: 20 Interceptions: 6 Passer Rating: 87.8 Sacks: 68 Rushing Yards: 489 Rushing Touchdowns: 0Contract Status
Williams is entering the second year of his rookie contract. His base salary will be $960,000, and he will earn another $8.01 million via a prorated signing bonus and roster bonus for a total cap number of $8.97 million in 2025.
Bears QB Caleb Williams / Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesTurning the Page
The Caleb Williams era began when he was drafted last April, but the Williams-Johnson era begins when the Bears get back to work this spring, an era that fans and Williams himself are excited about.
“I gave out a loud yell and scream of just excitement,” Williams told reporters in January regarding his finding out that Johnson was hired. “[It] brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason. It brings a bunch of different things to the offseason. And I’m really excited about obviously the Bears and being able to make this happen, and keeping Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time.”
The quarterback and coach are in place. Now, we wait on Ryan Poles to finish the job by fixing the offensive line and adding the necessary firepower on both sides of the football to capitalize on the investments made at quarterback and head coach over the last year.
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesWe can dream all day about what Ben Johnson can do for Williams, but Poles’ work on the rest of the roster this offseason will significantly affect our expectations for 2025. So, for now, we wait in anticipation.
But I’ll leave you with a quote from Williams that I found particularly promising:
“He told me that it’ll be my offense,” Williams said. “He’s going to build around me, but also, he’s going to test me. He’s going to challenge me in the offseason and things like that to what’s worked and what works in the NFL and things he may want me to get better at. But at the end of the day, if that doesn’t fit me, if it doesn’t work with me, it won’t be there — and our personnel overall.
“It brings another level of excitement because it’s us. It’s not when he was in Miami and their offense. It’s not when he was with Detroit and their offense. It’s the Chicago Bears and our offense and our personnel’s offense.”
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