The NFC North is projected to be a dominant division once again in 2026. It was one of the best in 2025, as all four teams had a chance to win it and they all finished above .500. Part of the reason that this group is so good is that Chicago’s Ben Johnson, Green Bay’s Matt LeFleur, Detroit’s Dan Campbell, and Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell are the four head coaches. Each of them is considered to be among the best the NFL has to offer.
The next big reason is that three of the four are set at quarterback heading into the 2026 season and beyond. Unless injury slows them down, Chicago’s Caleb Williams, Detroit’s Jared Goff, and Green Bay’s Jordan Love are ready to play.
For the Vikings, Kyler Murray has come in to battle JJ McCarthy for the starting job. Each Minnesota quarterback has a first-round pedigree, but each of them sees 2026 as a fresh start for different reasons. Whoever wins the job likely won’t enter the season ranked ahead of the other three.
So who is the best between Williams, Goff, and Love? The quarterback of the Bears absolutely has a case to be made. He had a breakout 2025 season, his second year in the NFL, and there is still room for improvement. Williams set a franchise single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, as well as 27 touchdowns to just seven interceptions in 17 games played for Chicago, who went 11-6 and won the NFC North. He came just shy of becoming the first Bears quarterback to ever throw for 4,000 yards. If the Bears didn’t lead the league in dropped passes, he would have blown past that mark.
Now, Williams comes into 2026 with another fresh start, a taste of what it was like to not only make the playoffs but also advance in the playoffs, and Johnson has one full year under his belt as a head coach. Together, they can make sure that Williams ends the season as the undisputed best quarterback in the division.
Goff and Love are incredible players. Each of them is more than capable of not only winning the division but also achieving all the gaudy statistics expected of Williams. What separates Williams from them going into his third season is the fact that his highest potential has yet to be unlocked, and he still may already be better than them. If Williams improves by even 10%, it won’t even be a discussion.
To help Williams reach that goal, the Bears have what they need in place. In addition to an elite head coach in Johnson, they also have playmakers like wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, to go with tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Coming out of the backfield, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are capable of being an elite duo after leading the third-ranked rushing attack last season.
With all of the help he has, Williams should take yet another step in his development, which is scary for the league. We pretty much know what Goff and Love are at this point; both are great players. But Williams’ ceiling is higher than what they are right now. By the end of the season, there should be no doubt left.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Why Bears’ Caleb Williams may already be top NFC North QB
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Vincent Parise, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
