The Chicago Bears walked into the 2024 season carrying sky-high expectations. Everything looked perfect on paper with Caleb Williams as their No. 1 overall pick and a loaded receiving corps featuring D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen.
But football isn’t played on paper, and Chicago’s season became a cautionary tale about how quickly things can fall apart.
Did Caleb Williams Deserve To Be in the Top 100?
Williams entered his rookie season with massive expectations, but the deck was stacked against him from the start. None of the Bears’ receivers or running backs crossed 1,000 yards, making it tough for any quarterback to shine. Add in one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines, and Williams was fighting an uphill battle from day one.
The numbers tell the story of a quarterback who struggled to find his rhythm. Williams threw for 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions. While those touchdown-to-interception numbers look solid, the advanced metrics painted a different picture.
He finished with a -0.05 EPA/DB (31st), a 30.5 third-down conversion rate (36th), and 5.5 nYPA (37th), which ultimately kept him off the PFSN Top 100 list despite being Chicago’s best player.
The PFSN Stats and Insights team didn’t mince words about Chicago’s situation: “The Chicago Bears are an ascending team with a great nucleus of promise. However, do they have that one certified game-changing star of a player? The answer is no, and the data backed that up.”
They continued: “Caleb Williams was among the lowest in EPA per dropback among qualified quarterbacks while neither other returning starter cracked the top 10 of their respective positions, essentially crushing their chances of a player being represented on the PFSN NFL Top 100.”
These Caleb Williams TD passes are even more impressive from this angle 🎯@CALEBcsw | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/HaOcSjbf84
— NFL (@NFL) July 17, 2025
The defensive side of the ball performed better than the offense overall, but individual standouts were hard to find. Montez Sweat led the team in sacks with just 5.5 while recording only 18 solo tackles in 16 starts. The secondary struggled to create turnovers, with no player tallying more than two interceptions.
What Changes Could Transform Chicago’s 2025 Season?
Following their disappointing 2024 campaign, the Bears made moves that signal they’re serious about turning things around. The hiring of former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as head coach represents the most significant change, bringing one of the league’s most respected play-callers to Chicago.
Johnson wasted no time addressing the offensive line issues that plagued Williams throughout his rookie year. The Bears added three new starters on the interior: Joe Thuney (trade), Jonah Jackson (trade), and Drew Dalman. This complete makeover should give Williams the protection he desperately needs.
Chicago also bolstered its offensive weapons through the draft, adding tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III. Loveland’s athleticism could make him an immediate upgrade over Cole Kmet. Johnson’s track record with Sam LaPorta in Detroit suggests he knows how to maximize a talented tight end’s potential.
The defense also received attention, with the additions of Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner. If Johnson can work his magic on the offensive side of the ball, this defense has the pieces to support a deep playoff run.
