This is quite a time to be a Chicago Bears fan, and the faithful are excited like they haven’t been in decades.
The Bears have a potential superstar in Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and unlike most rookie quarterbacks, he will have legitimate weapons around him, including wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and fellow rookie Rome Odunze.
The franchise hasn’t had a truly elite quarterback in decades, with a succession of false prophets at the position.
Former Chicago defensive end Alex Brown told Zach Gelb that Williams will immediately surpass the best season of former Bears QB Jay Cutler, who was under center for Chicago from 2009 to 2016.
“I think he will surpass Jay Cutler’s best year this year,” Brown said.
.@alexbrown96 says Caleb Williams will surpass Jay Cutler’s best season this year for the Bears. @InfSportsNet pic.twitter.com/HskM8fCqIm
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) July 31, 2024
Gelb responded by predicting that Williams will reach 4,000 passing yards this year, something Cutler did just once, as a member of the Denver Broncos in 2008, the only year he made the Pro Bowl.
The single-season record for passing yards in Bears history is held by Erik Kramer, who threw for 3,838 yards in the 1995 season.
Even Jim McMahon, the starting QB for the Bears when they won the Super Bowl championship in the 1985 campaign, never even reached 2,500 passing yards in a season.
Cutler’s best statistical season with Chicago arguably was the 2014 campaign, when he posted 3,812 passing yards and 28 TD passes. However, he also threw 18 interceptions and the team finished with a 5-11 record.
Perhaps Chicago won’t make the playoffs this season, but if Williams at least somewhat lives up to the hype, it could become a perennial postseason participant fairly soon.
NEXT:
D.J. Moore Helping Bears Receiver Work Out Contract Extension
