This offseason, one of the biggest debates is whether Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is a top-10 quarterback and what his full potential is over the next few years.
Opinions have ranged from calling Williams one of the best in the NFL to saying he still needs to prove himself over the course of the 2026 season. Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked to chime in on the conversation to share his thoughts on whether Williams can be a top-five quarterback, with the young coach focused on one thing more than whether Williams is elite.
"What we're all concerned about is winning ballgames," Johnson said via 104.3 The Score's Chris Emma. "If that means top five quarterbacks based on wins, then I'm all for it. But that's what we're concerned about, every single week going into the game, finding a way to win that ballgame. I think he proved last year that if the game is close at the end, he's going to go all out and become Superman at times to make some critical plays. That's great. We continue to see his evolution as a quarterback."
Ben Johnson focused on wins for Caleb Williams as part of his evolution
Chicago did plenty of winning in Johnson's first year with the Bears, going 11-6 and winning the NFC North with a playoff victory. Johnson also helped Williams' development, as he improved his passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing touchdowns since his rookie season in 2024.
Williams still has a lot of growth to make, as his passing accuracy dipped from 62% in 2024 to 58% in 2025. While Johnson said the reason was Williams learning the offense, there was still plenty of good shown, with Williams being clutch in big moments and showing he can make any throw in the NFL.
The 2026 season feels like the timeframe where Williams should take a massive leap into stardom, as many are already anticipating it. He was chosen for the cover of the Madden 27 video game, while quarterback lists continue to include Williams as a top-10 talent.
Read more: Madden 27 gave the Caleb Williams confirmation that'll have Bears fans fired up
Things appear to be only going up from where Williams has been in the last two years in the NFL. At this rate, he might not only be well on his way to winning an NFL MVP, but he might reset the market on quarterback contracts, as the Bears are going to have to cough up a lot of money to keep him.
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