Expectations were high when the Chicago Bears drafted USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coming off four consecutive losing seasons, the Bears were desperate to find a franchise signal-caller.
With the Bears finishing the 2024 season with a win in Green Bay, it’s time to look at how Williams faired in his first full NFL season.
Breaking down Caleb Williams’ Numbers
Despite a team record of 5-12 in 2024, Williams had a productive first season in the NFL.
Through 17 games, Williams totaled 3,541 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, both Chicago Bears franchise records for a rookie. His 3,541 passing yards also places him fifth all-time in Bears single-season passing leaders.
Williams also threw just six interceptions, the least of any rookie quarterback to start at least eight games in 2024. Williams also set an NFL rookie record of consecutive passes without throwing an interception (326).
However, it wasn’t all daisies and roses for the rookie.
A common criticism of Williams coming out of college was that he held onto the ball too long—he couldn’t play in structure. In 2024, Williams was the most sacked quarterback in the league despite having the 10th-longest average throw time.
Also, despite throwing just six interceptions, Williams had 19 turnover-worthy plays. This was one of the highest marks among qualifying quarterbacks.
While Williams clearly experienced some ups and downs in his rookie year, it’s important to consider the context behind these numbers.
The Bigger Picture
One of the most important components of a young quarterback’s success is the situation around him.
The numbers don’t tell you that Williams’ head coach, Matt Eberflus, was fired midway through the season.
They don’t say that Williams had two different offensive coordinators last year.
They don’t show you that Williams led multiple potential game-winning drives that were wiped out due to poor coaching and team performance (e.g., away vs. Commanders, home vs. Packers, away vs. Lions).
All of this, on top of getting drafted to one of the biggest markets in the league and the immense pressure that comes with that, makes it clear Williams faced a lot of adversity in year one.
Grade: B+
When looking at the overall numbers and situation Williams was in throughout year one, it’s clear he was a bright spot for a struggling organization.
Dealing with a coaching change mid-season is never easy, much less for a rookie quarterback. Even though Williams was still able to post productive numbers despite that is impressive. He also beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, something that hadn’t been done by a Bears quarterback since 2015. He deserves some extra points for that.
The 5-12 record does not and should not define Williams’ rookie season. There are many things outside of his control that contributed to that. What Bears fans can hope for now is building everything around their rookie quarterback right away, putting him in a position to succeed.
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