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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 21: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field on September 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have a lot to look forward to next season, and a huge reason why is thanks to quarterback Caleb Williams.
In his first year under Ben Johnson, Williams took massive strides, throwing for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions.
“The things that we highlighted for Caleb to start the season, I did think they improved as the season went along,” Johnson said. “We revamped the footwork a little bit last spring, and I think the comfort level grew from that. He certainly got more comfortable with the concepts that we were running over the course of the season.”
He’s on the path to superstar status in the NFL, but for now, he’ll be an All-Star for a different reason: for the NBA’s celebrity 3-point contest this Friday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Caleb Williams Sends Message on Celebrity 3-Point Contest
Williams took to Instagram to let his feelings be known on being a contestant for the celebrity 3-point contest.
“Not a hooper yall. Gonna go have some fun”
Williams is the only NFL player who will participate in the event, with a mix of influencers and current/former NBA players as well.
NBA analyst/former NBA player Richard Jefferson
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain
BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester
Jake From State Farm
Internet personality and comedian Druski
Streamer and entertainer PlaqueBoyMax
Internet personality Cam Wilder
For reference, Williams did not play basketball in high school or college, but as someone who’s a king at improvising and making wow plays, he could shock a lot of people on Friday.
ESPN Showing Love to Bears QB1
Even if Williams wasn’t an All-Pro or a Pro Bowler in 2025, ESPN believes big things are in store for him in 2026.
Matt Bowen believes the Bears will beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl LXI due to Williams “playmaking ability,” Dan Graziano believes he’ll win MVP because the “arrow is pointing up for Williams with Ben Johnson and a Bears team that arrived well ahead of schedule,” and Field Yates believes Williams will become an All-Pro because there’s “still so much room for growth.”
Actions speak louder than words, and Williams will still need to put in the work to improve and make sure he puts himself in a position to win the Super Bowl, become an All-Pro, and be an MVP.
“There’s something that we can build upon, and yet there’s still a lot more that we can push through in that regard,” Johnson said regarding Williams. “And so, I’m really encouraged about the steps he took this year. I’m Caleb Williams’ No. 1 believer. I have a lot of faith in him, what he’s capable of doing, and the player that he’s still striving to become.”
For someone who started every game and broke the record for most passing yards by a Bears quarterback in a postseason game, Williams is heading in the right direction.
Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga
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