The Chicago Bears are a franchise steeped in history, but for over a century, one glaring omission has stained their otherwise storied record: they are the only current NFL team to have never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a single season. This elusive benchmark, once a rare feat but now a near-routine expectation in the modern, pass-heavy league, stands as the most persistent symbol of the Bears’ quarterback curse.

Yet, in what is quickly becoming a magical 11-4 season — the franchise’s best start since 2018 and one that has already clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 — the pursuit of this individual record is inextricably linked to the team’s stunning collective success. Enter Caleb Williams, the electric,  signal-caller drafted with the first overall pick, whose arrival was meant to fundamentally modernize the team’s identity. Williams is not just chasing a statistical milestone; he’s taking aim at one of the most stubborn narratives in professional sports, doing so while guiding the Bears’ sudden surge to the top of the NFC North.

Armed with a dramatically improved supporting cast and an offensive scheme tailored to his explosive talent, Williams is now on the precipice of delivering what no Chicago QB has before. As the final weeks of the season approach, every drop-back brings the potential to shatter the team’s most infamous drought, making Williams the man who finally drags the proud but passing-averse Bears into the 21st-century NFL, all while their Super Bowl hopes suddenly look very real.

Here’s how Williams can become the first Bears quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards.

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Bears 4,00-yard passers

Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a single season. The Bears are the only NFL franchise to never achieve this feat.

These throws from Caleb Williams are insane! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/0wRPb2uYUa

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 24, 2025

The current franchise record, which has stood for nearly three decades, was set by Erik Kramer in 1995. While several passers have come close, most notably Jay Cutler, the 4,000-yard mark remains the most glaring omission in the Bears’ record books.

RankPlayerPassing YardsYear1Erik Kramer3,83819952Jay Cutler3,81220143Jay Cutler3,66920134Jay Cutler3,66620095Caleb Williams3,4492025

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Caleb Williams 2025 pace

Caleb Williams’ current pace puts him just shy of the 4,000-yard mark, but still in a position to break the franchise record. He sits 600 yards away from 4,000 entering “Sunday Night Football” against the 49ers.

StatisticCurrent Totals (Through 15 Games)Passing yards3,400 Pass completions285Pass attempts493Completion percentage57.8%Touchdown passes23Interceptions6 Passer rating89.5Average yards/attempt6.9Times sacked23

Williams needs to average 300 yards in the next two games against the 49ers and Lions to get the highly-sought record.

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Bears remaining 2025 scheduleDateOpponentTime (ET)12/28at 49ers8:20 PM01/04vs LionsTBD

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Most passing yards in a single season in Bears history

The all-time record for the most passing yards in a single season in Chicago Bears history belongs to Erik Kramer, who achieved the mark in 1995. Kramer threw for 3,838 yards that year, a total that has stood for nearly three decades as the most successful passing output for any quarterback in the franchise’s long and storied history. Kramer’s 1995 season, in which he also set the team record for passing touchdowns with 29, remains the gold standard for the Bears’ passing attack.

With only 2 games remaining

Caleb Williams is 439 yards away from breaking the #Bears all time single season passing yard record.

Erik Kramer had 3838 yards in 1995 pic.twitter.com/mzTJh7DWm2

— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) December 27, 2025

While several quarterbacks have approached Kramer’s record, the mark has proven stubbornly difficult to break. Most notably, Jay Cutler — who holds every major Bears career passing record — came agonizingly close in 2014, throwing for 3,812 yards and falling just 26 yards shy of the franchise milestone. As the only current NFL franchise to have never featured a 4,000-yard passer, the Bears’ pursuit of this elite benchmark has become one of the most prominent narratives surrounding new quarterbacks like Williams, who are tasked not just with winning, but with modernizing a passing history defined by its low ceilings.

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