Caleb Williams Sets 2026 Goals After Bears’ 2025 Breakthrough Season

Caleb Williams is already plotting his next jump after his second NFL season ended with clear progress under Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

The 24-year-old quarterback closed 2025 with 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions across 17 games. Now entering his third campaign, he’s zeroing in on efficiency and consistency.

What did Caleb Williams achieve in 2025?

Williams capped his second NFL season with a 58.1% completion rate, 27 passing TDs, and seven picks in 17 games. His yardage total ranked among the league’s top rookie-to-second-year surges, and his interception count stayed well below the league average for second-year QBs. Chicago’s offense finished in the upper half of the NFC in scoring, a leap from its bottom-third output in 2024.

The Bears’ coaching staff praised his pocket presence and decision-making under pressure. Johnson called Williams’ second year a “foundation year” and said the offense’s red-zone execution improved markedly after the All-Star break.

What’s Caleb Williams’ 2026 focus?

Williams told the Bears’ official site that he’s chasing three upgrades: higher completion percentage, fewer turnovers, and longer drives. “Get the completion percentage up,” he said. “Keep the offense on the field more. Be the highest-scoring offense.”

He also stressed ball placement for his receivers, breaking down his growth from simply completing passes to threading throws in tight windows. “Being able to put the ball in the best position for the wide receivers first starts with a completion,” he added. “And then from there you grow in the confidence from completing the ball.”

Chicago’s front office expects Williams to build on his red-zone chemistry with D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, two additions who arrived via offseason moves.

When does Caleb Williams’ 2026 season start?

The Bears open at home against the Carolina Panthers on September 13, 2026. Chicago’s schedule features early tests against division rivals Green Bay and Minnesota, plus a Week 4 trip to San Francisco that could set the tone for the NFC North race.

Johnson has already mapped out a heavier dose of play-action and bootlegs to mask Williams’ tendency to stare down receivers. The staff is also installing quicker-rhythm concepts to reduce sacks, a stat that crept up late in 2025.

What’s next for the Bears and Caleb Williams?

The Bears’ brass insists Williams’ third-year leap is already baked into their 2026 projections. General manager Ryan Poles called it “the year of execution” and pointed to improved practice habits under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

Williams himself framed the challenge bluntly: “There’s so much to unlock. There’s so much to get better at.” Chicago’s brass is betting that his third season delivers the consistency the franchise has lacked since Mitchell Trubisky’s tenure ended in 2019.