Caleb Williams Eyes Major Improvements Ahead of Bears Opener

Overcoming the Playoff Heartbreak

Caleb Williams is ready for his third NFL season, but a painful memory still drives him. It has been 239 days since his overtime interception against the Los Angeles Rams ended Chicago's 2025 playoff run. Williams admitted that the play still bothers him today. "It burns," he said. "It's frustrating."

Now, the Bears quarterback is focused on a new campaign. Chicago opens the 2026 season on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. It will be the first time Williams faces Bryce Young as a starting quarterback. The matchup highlights the 2023 trade that eventually allowed Chicago to draft Williams first overall in 2024.

Three Areas of Focus

Williams and his coaches spent the offseason targeting three areas for growth. First is accuracy. Williams completed 58.1 percent of his passes last year, which was the lowest mark among qualified quarterbacks. Still, he threw for a franchise record 3,942 yards and helped Chicago's offense jump to sixth in the league. Ben Johnson wants Williams to reach a 70 percent completion rate this year.

Second, Williams wants to take more chances. He has 47 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions in his career because he usually plays it safe. This year, he plans to trust his receivers more in tight windows.

Finally, Williams is working on reading defenses faster. Quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett calls this accelerating his vision. It helps Williams skip certain reads based on the coverage he sees.

What it means for the next game

Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers (NFL, Sun, 13 Sep): Carolina Panthers win 41%, Chicago Bears win 59%; projected score Carolina Panthers 23, Chicago Bears 25. Our safest pick: Panthers +10. Our best value pick: Panthers +3.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (NFL, Sun, 20 Sep): Chicago Bears win 61%, Minnesota Vikings win 39%; projected score Chicago Bears 24, Minnesota Vikings 20. Our safest pick: Bears to win. Our best value pick: Under 45.5 points.