The Chicago Bears aren’t focused on making the playoffs. They are focused on getting better. Obviously getting that far is one of their goals, but the primary objective is being better than they were last season. Among the keys to that ensuring the rapid development of Caleb Williams. They took him #1 overall for a reason. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus believe he has the tools and mental acuity to carry a franchise on his back. This upcoming season will be his first chance to prove it.
Many have tried to keep expectations realistic and understand that rookie quarterbacks usually need an adjustment period before excelling. That didn’t appear to bother former offensive lineman Damien Woody. He declared on Get Up ESPN that Williams is the most likely rookie quarterback to lead his team to the playoffs.
It is worth noting only one rookie quarterback in modern Bears history ever made the playoffs, and he got benched at the end of the regular season. That was Kyle Orton. However, recent NFL trends suggest this statement is far from impossible.
One must remember that first-year quarterbacks making the playoffs has become a more common trend since the turn of the millennium. Ben Roethlisberger did it in 2004. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco both did it in 2008. Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson both did it in 2012. Lamar Jackson did it in 2018. Mac Jones did it in 2021. C.J. Stroud, of course, did it last year. So, it is far from unprecedented. The common thread between those quarterbacks is they were all surrounded by good teammates.
That is why Woody’s argument makes sense. Chicago already knows they have a solid defense. That is why they spent most of the off-season upgrading the offensive side with new arrivals like Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett. It is a deep and diverse group. If the offensive line doesn’t completely ruin it, this team should score points. Caleb Williams won’t have to be Superman, and that will only help his confidence.
