Year 3 of the Caleb Williams era for the Chicago Bears is hopefully going to be the one where his full potential is finally met.
Williams took major strides in 2025 after throwing for a franchise record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with three more rushing scores and a receiving touchdown to add to the stats. Adding in the NFL record seven comeback and game-winning drives he led last year, and the Bears fan base got a taste of what the next 10 to 15 years could potentially look like.
During the 2026 offseason, it was the first time there had been legitimate chatter about Williams winning the MVP or at least being in the conversation. The NFL's schedule release for the Bears is not helping Williams's chances, as it only adds more pressure on him to perform strongly earlier in the year.
Caleb Williams must set the tone early in the Bears' season
Just looking at the first nine games of the season for Williams, the Bears have a gauntlet of a schedule they have to deal with. In the first month alone, Williams has to go up against three straight great defenses in the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles. And that's just in September.
After that, the Bears have the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Again, all great defenses that can make Williams' life miserable early on.
Last year, the Vikings, Eagles, and Packers all played very good defense against Williams and did not make it easy for him. While he did beat all three teams, it was more about the Bears' defense creating turnovers and the running game being established than about Williams. It took until the second half of the second Vikings games and the last two Packers games for Chicago's franchise quarterback to get going. He'd better get off to faster starts in 2026.
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If Williams wants to establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and have his Bears in the conversation for the number one seed, they need a fast start, and beating the seven teams mentioned will only help. Bears fans just hope that he is ready for the challenge and becomes a legit MVP candidate in 2026.
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