Two seasons into his career, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took a moment to reflect on how his rookie year was perceived. The former No. 1 overall pick has already experienced both sides of the NFL spotlight in Chicago. Appearing recently on The Rush with Maxx Crosby, Williams addressed that perception.
Caleb Williams Pushes Back on “Bad Year” Label
Williams opened the podcast by explaining that he believes his rookie season was mischaracterized.
“Like even my first year, didn’t actually have a bad year,” Williams said. “But it was a lot of heat and classified as a bad year because we didn’t win … the heat is a little bit more than what you would think it would be.”
In 2024, Williams started all 17 games and threw for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns, both franchise rookie records. He completed 62.5 percent of his passes while navigating a challenging season that included a league-high 68 sacks. Chicago finished 5-12, and head coach Matt Eberflus was fired.
Then the Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson, and Williams flourished this season. He ranked 20th in PFSN’s QBi Metric and carried the Bears to their first division title since 2018.
Chicago’s trajectory shifted under Johnson and Williams. The Bears improved to 11-6 and won the NFC North. Williams threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, adding 388 rushing yards and three scores. The offense climbed to 10th in PFSN’s OFFi Metric.
Still, the scrutiny from Year 1 clearly stayed with him. On Crosby’s podcast, Williams referenced the disconnect between individual performance and team results, noting that quarterbacks often absorb criticism tied to the win-loss column.
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Maxx Crosby Relates to Caleb Williams’ Frustration As Bears’ Stability Fuels NFC Expectations
Crosby acknowledged he understood the dynamic Williams described. The Raiders’ defensive end has spent his entire career navigating similar circumstances. Drafted in 2019, Crosby has never been on a team that won more than 10 games. He has reached the playoffs once, in 2021, when the Raiders were led by Derek Carr and head coach Jon Gruden.
Over the past two seasons, the Raiders have lost a combined 27 games. Individually, Crosby has continued to produce, recording double-digit sacks in 2022 and 2023, earning AP All-Pro honors in 2023, and leading the NFL in tackles for loss each year.
Crosby wishes his team could make the statistical jump Williams and the Bears did. Now, Chicago is positioned to be a factor in the NFC for years to come following Johnson’s exceptional first season. The offensive line improved, the system featured defined structure, and Williams’ decision-making sharpened while still preserving the off-script creativity that places him in the same rare air as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Chicago enters 2026 with continuity in the coaching staff and expectations that match last season’s success. Williams should keep improving and never again have to experience a year like he did as a rookie.
