Part of the job of being an NFL quarterback is being able to handle the pressure of being in the spotlight on and off the field. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams finds himself under more pressure than he has ever faced in his young NFL career.
ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky put together a ranking of the top five quarterbacks who are under the most pressure entering the 2025 season. Williams found himself at the top of the list as he must live up to his first overall pick standards.
"You were also the guy, the golden child, the unbelievable athlete, the next Patrick Mahomes. You got the best offensive mind in football in the past five, six, seven, eight seasons, a rebuilt offensive line, plenty of dudes to throw the football to, a first-round pick at tight end. It is go time for Caleb Williams. You have to go out and show that you are the talent, the player, and the future of the organization for a team and a place that desperately has been begging for."
.@danorlovsky7's top five QBs with the most to prove in 2025 ⬇️
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 4, 2025
1. Caleb Williams
2. Trevor Lawrence
3. J.J. McCarthy
4. Bryce Young
5. Anthony Richardson pic.twitter.com/JFVqG3HB1h
It's go time for the second-year quarterback
Last year has been documented in detail, featuring Williams' mixed bag of performances. He threw for over 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns to six interceptions, but fumbled the ball 10 times and was sacked an NFL-high 68 times.
The pressure is only starting to grow more with the recent struggles of the offense at training camp. From pre-snap issues to Williams not hitting his receivers with accuracy. The noise is starting to get loud for the young quarterback.
Orlovsky was right on point when he said that the roster is set up more for him. The Bears brought in three veteran offensive linemen to fix the interior, and they added Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III within the first two rounds.
An argument could be made that it shouldn't add pressure on Williams. That should alleviate it for him, as Williams doesn't have to do everything himself. He can trust his weapons around him to make the plays needed in a game.
Read more: Surprising Bears rookie becoming hard to ignore at training camp
Bears fans are putting their trust in Ben Johnson to coach Williams up, as that was the one key ingredient missing from last year's team. Williams has everything he needs to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL for a long time. It's on him to put it all together.