The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have a great rivalry that has really intensified in the last year, but there have even been times when they have paid each other some respect.
Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has known all too well about that rivalry after spending the last two years as the Packers' defensive coordinator and facing a great quarterback like Bears' Caleb Williams. While at the NFL owners' meeting, Hafley paid his compliments to Williams and his play.
"I just think what Caleb did at the end of the games and his ability to make off-schedule plays are incredible," Hafley said via Bears Wire's Preston Zbroszczyk. "I mean, that's just me being honest. At the end of games, when he had to make off-schedule plays and somehow pull it off, he did. He got better throughout the season. I think he's a really good quarterback that's only going to get better."
Jeff Hafley has high compliments for Caleb Williams
Some people have opinions about Williams, but he has quickly risen to one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Last year, he broke the Bears' passing yards record with 3,942 yards and added 27 passing touchdowns to seven interceptions, while adding three rushing scores and a receiving touchdown in 17 games.
The off-schedule throws that Hafley was talking about are what have made Williams' legacy quickly grow in the last year. He led the Bears to seven comeback and game-winning drives in 2025, the most in NFL history. A lot of times, it was wild passes like the game-winning touchdowns to DJ Moore in the Packers Week 16 and Wild Card games that have separated him from the pack.
Read more: Bears' biggest question entering draft is one fans wished was answered last month
Fans outside Chicago can say whatever they want, but Williams is as good as they come and will only get better in Year 3.