Caleb Williams hasn’t had the start everyone hoped for. He’s shown flashes of the franchise guy Chicago has waited decades for, but also inconsistency that’s hard to ignore. The reality is, his first year and a half has been mixed — moments of brilliance followed by frustrating stretches. Still, calling him a bust this early would be a mistake.
The Reality So Far
Through 23 career games, Williams has thrown for 4,892 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions. His completion percentage hovers around 62 percent. He’s been sacked 79 times, which is a massive number, but that’s not all on him. Protection issues, inconsistent play calling, and growing pains with a new offensive system all play a role.
He’s improved in key areas from year one to year two — higher yards per attempt, better red-zone efficiency, and more control at the line. The Bears are 4-3 to start 2025 after going 5-12 last season. That’s progress, even if it hasn’t looked pretty.
Look at the Precedent
Go back and look at Jared Goff. His rookie season with the Rams was ugly: 0-7 as a starter, 5 touchdowns, 7 picks, and a passer rating barely over 60. Everyone wrote him off. Then Sean McVay arrived, the system changed, and Goff jumped to 3,800 yards, 28 touchdowns, and an 11-4 record the very next year.
Josh Allen’s story is the same. He was raw, inaccurate, and inefficient for two years. People mocked the Bills for drafting him. Then the team added Stefon Diggs, improved the protection, and gave him continuity in play-calling. Suddenly, he became an MVP candidate.
Both guys struggled early but had the traits worth betting on — arm talent, mobility, poise, and the ability to learn. Williams has all of those.
Stat Comparisons
Caleb Williams’ First Two Seasons
| Season | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | Sacks | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 | 351 | 562 | 62.5 | 3,541 | 6.3 | 20 | 6 | 87.8 | 68 | 5–12 |
| 2025† | 6 | 113 | 185 | 61.1 | 1,351 | 7.3 | 9 | 3 | 92.8 | 11 | 4–2 |
| Career | 23 | 464 | 747 | 62.1 | 4,892 | 6.5 | 29 | 9 | 89.1 | 79 | 9–14 |
Jared Goff’s First Two Seasons
| Season | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | Sacks | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 | 112 | 205 | 54.6 | 1,089 | 5.3 | 5 | 7 | 63.6 | 26 | 0–7 |
| 2017 | 15 | 296 | 477 | 62.1 | 3,804 | 8.0 | 28 | 7 | 100.5 | 25 | 11–4 |
| First 2 Yrs | 22 | 408 | 682 | 59.8 | 4,893 | 7.2 | 33 | 14 | 89.4 | 51 | 11–11 |
Josh Allen’s First Two Seasons
| Season | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | Sacks | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 12 | 169 | 320 | 52.8 | 2,074 | 6.5 | 10 | 12 | 67.9 | 28 | 5–6 |
| 2019 | 16 | 271 | 461 | 58.8 | 3,089 | 6.7 | 20 | 9 | 85.3 | 38 | 10–6 |
| First 2 Yrs | 28 | 440 | 781 | 56.3 | 5,163 | 6.6 | 30 | 21 | 78.2 | 66 | 15–12 |
Why You Should Stay Patient
Yes today he did not play well and he’s now had two back-to-back games with 0 TDs and 2 INTs. Not great. I get it and you have every right to be frustrated. Shit, I know I was. But when you take a step back and look at the big picture, it’s not as bleak as you may think.
And thats because quarterback development isn’t linear. It’s messy. It depends on coaching, system fit, and roster quality. I mean look at Baker and Sam Darnold, people threw them in the trash and both for the past two seasons now have looked like top 10 QBs. While Williams has had three head coaches in less than two seasons and is still adjusting to NFL speed. But he’s showing the traits you want to see — resilience after mistakes, smarter decisions under pressure, and more consistent command of the offense.
He’s not the finished product yet, but the signs are there. If he continues trending upward and the Bears keep building around him, the breakout everyone expects could come soon.
Final Verdict
Caleb Williams hasn’t lived up to the full hype yet, but he’s shown more than enough to stay patient. You don’t give up on a guy who’s flashed elite tools and steady improvement this early. Jared Goff and Josh Allen proved that development takes time, the right coach, and the right pieces. Williams deserves that same runway.
If the Bears stay committed to his growth, they might finally have the quarterback they’ve been waiting for.
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