Caleb Williams Aiming Higher After 2025 Playoff Run: ‘Last Year Wasn’t Really Anything’

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has big aspirations for 2026.

In his first year under head coach Ben Johnson, Williams passed for nearly 4,000 yards; the Bears won the NFC North for the first time in 7 years and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. But while speaking to reporters upon his return to the facility Monday, Williams made it clear that those accomplishments are only a stepping stone toward his true goal.

“I would say for me personally, it’s a big year, in the sense [that] I get to grow more,” he said. “I get to step into the role that I’ve spoken about for the past two years, and so that’s important for me. I’m really excited. I’ve been itching to get back since the [Divisional Round] game. … I’m excited to be around the guys … and see the new faces, and obviously some of the guys that have been here.”

Some of the new faces include receiver/return specialist Kalif Raymond, center Garrett Bradbury, and backup tackle Jedrick Wills. The Bears overhauled their defense, adding defensive linemen Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch; linebackers Devin Bush and Jack Sanborn; and safeties Cam Lewis and Coby Bryant.

With all the new faces on the team, and several veteran leaders leaving in free agency—linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus among them—Williams has a chance to become a leader in the locker room. He said that the leadership role would be earned.

“I think you’ve got to start off with earning that respect,” he said. “And a lot of that comes from being able to go win ball games, doing it on Sundays. And obviously, you’ve got to show up, you’ve got to work Monday to Saturday. And then on Sundays, you got to go win … I think I’ve earned some respect from my teammates and things like that. And I’ve got to keep earning that. I’ve got to keep doing the same things and doing it better than I did last year and the year before. And so that’s my goal, that’s my mindset. It’s always lead by example. And then, if anything needs to be said, I don’t mind being confrontational about it.”

Last year, the former first overall pick passed for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. He added 388 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. While his numbers improved, his efficiency decreased: he completed just 58.1 percent of his passes, compared to 62.5 percent in 2024. Last season, his head coach set a bold target of a 70% completion rate; that goal is the same for this upcoming season.

“I would say it all starts with more reps,” he said of what it will take to hit that target. “And then the next part, it comes with comfort in the offense, and I think towards the end of [last] year, that started to grow for me … That last point is the details, whether it’s the receiver’s depth, and his steps, and where his landmark is to break or stop or settle. And then from there, it’s me knowing all of those also. And then from there, it’s being able to deliver a catchable ball, whether it’s velocity or where I place the ball placement and things like that, to be able to allow them to catch it but also have more from it.”

Besides his personal accomplishments in 2025, the Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They defeated the division rival Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the Divisional Round.

Williams said that success was a good experience, but only a stepping stone to where he wants to go.

“It was good for me to be able to see, to be able to feel, to be able to go out there and win games,” he said.

“But that wasn’t my goal, that’s not my goal, that’s not where I want to be. I want to be the best. I want to go win. I want to be, as we call it, a world champion; a Super Bowl champion. I want to be the best Bear quarterback, best quarterback.

“And so my goals, yes, that was a good stepping stone for me, but that wasn’t the last stepping stone. Being able to grow off of last year, and being able to progress in ways that I want to. Last year wasn’t really anything; it was a good year, and we’ve got many more good years coming up.”