The Chicago Bears will enter the 2026 season looking to build off their success last year, led by second-year head coach Ben Johnson and third-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Pairing Johnson with Williams was key to the season that the Bears had last year, winning the NFC North division for the first time since 2018, and beating the Green Bay Packers twice last year, including eliminating them from the playoffs.
Chicago understands the urgency to strike big while in the early stages of Williams’ career, looking to build the most competitive and talented roster around him while he is still on his rookie deal. Teams that have young quarterbacks have a small window to find the most success before they have to pay the face of their franchise big money, which is where the Bears are approaching in 2026, the last year season for Williams before he’s eligible for a lucrative contract extension.
Nick Shook of NFL.com ranked the Top 15 quarterbacks on their rookie contracts, placing Williams at No. 2, just behind Drake Maye who took the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl last season.
Even those who held the highest expectations for Ben Johnson probably didn’t foresee his partnership with Williams going as well as it did in Year 1,” Shook wrote. “Johnson’s arrival worked wonderfully for Caleb, who appeared to overcome his tendency to freeze while trying to make the perfect play. In his second NFL season, the former Heisman Trophy winner operated instinctively, showing off a fantastic clutch gene that powered a collection of heart-stopping, season-defining wins for Chicago. Under Johnson, Williams was able to display his natural talents and begin to justify his No. 1 overall selection. By season’s end, he was one of my favorite quarterbacks to watch. I expect him to meet that description again in 2026, the last year before he is eligible for an extension that should make his paycheck exponentially bigger.
With a cap hit of $10.8 million this season, Williams did not cost Chicago much on their books and allowed them to chase down resources for their defense, including their two biggest signings of safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush. Williams is certainly in line for a massive payday, but for financial reasons, the Bears would most certainly love to capitalize the highest level of success, winning a Super Bowl sooner rather than later.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears’ Caleb Williams ranked near top of QBs on rookie contracts
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
