The Chicago Bears are on an absolute tear. They've won six of their last seven games and have a playoff appearance within reach in the second half of the season. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has been at the center of his team's success, making massive improvements on his somewhat disappointing rookie campaign.
Under head coach Ben Johnson, the young passer is flipping the narrative. He's playing efficient football, while still maintaining the creativity that makes him special.
His teammates are taking notice. After the Bears' win over the New York Giants this weekend, a couple of players were quick to shout out their quarterback's impressive play in recent weeks.
Bears teammates have high praise for Caleb Williams
Williams wasn't perfect against the Giants, but he did what was necessary to get the job done. He finished the day with 220 yards and a touchdown through the air and another touchdown on the ground.
He showed some of the magic that made him the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, evading pass rushers to extend plays on multiple occasions. He was physical as a runner, unafraid of lowering his shoulder and taking some contact when necessary.
Over the last two weeks, Williams has five total touchdowns and no interceptions to his name. He's playing the explosive but controlled brand of football that fans have been looking for since he was drafted.
Two of his teammates let the media know just how special their quarterback is after the game. When asked about Williams' gutsiness, receiver D.J. Moore said, "He don't want to go down easy. He just laid out for the team today."
Rookie receiver Luther Burden joined in on the celebration of his quarterback, saying, "It's just his will to win. He'll do anything to come back in the locker room and celebrate with his teammates... I've got all the confidence in the world in him."
For the first time in quite a while, the Chicago Bears have a quarterback they can rally around. Williams has still had his ups and downs this year, but he's been able to lead one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Week by week, he's confirming that he's the franchise quarterback the Bears have been searching for for years, if not decades. Even if he hasn't won over the entirety of the fan base quite yet, he's clearly won over his own locker room.