As the NFL has evolved into a pass-heavy league, our perception of good numbers for quarterbacks, wide receivers, and others has shifted as well. Marks like 1,000 receiving yards or 3,000 passing yards, the former of which would be set aside and recognized in football card form, don't move the needle very much now.
With that, 4,000 passing yards have become the mark of a particularly productive season for a quarterback. Last season, six quarterbacks got there. In a broad sense, 31 teams have had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a season.
Of course, as fans definitely know, the Bears are the only team who has not had a quarterback get to that yardage mark in a season. Caleb Williams fell 58 yards short last year, as he also lost more than 400 yards to dropped passes.
Williams has to be more accurate, and he generally needs to have more consistent ball placement to make it easier for his pass catchers, but he also lost a lot of completions he should have had last year. His expected completion rate, 65 percent according to Next Gen Stats, was in the same neighborhood as Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and LamarJackson.
Bears' defining number for 2026 season is abundantly obvious
Matt Okada of NFL.com has dug into data to offer one defining number for each team in 2026. That number for the Bears is all-too obvious.
4,000, as in, passing yards.
"The Bears remain the only current NFL franchise to never have a player reach 4,000 passing yards in a season. Madden NFL 27 cover star came up just short in 2025 -- with 3,942 -- as did the Bears, who lost 20-17 to the Rams in the Divisional Round. Perhaps, if “Iceman” takes a small step forward in 2026, he and Chicago can both shake the proverbial monkeys on their backs en route to the history books and to Inglewood in February."
Even more than a monkey that lingers on its back, the 4,000-yard passing mark is a scarlet letter that marks the Bears' franchise. It symbolizes the lack of continuity and proficiency they've had at the most important position on the field more than anything else can.
Read more: 5 Chicago Bears who could easily be first time Pro Bowlers in 2026
Williams is the chosen one to put an end to that 4,000-yard bugaboo. He really should have put it to bed last year, but this year he will surely get it done.
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