Bears Earn Lowest QB Panic Meter Score Entering 2026 Season
The Bears earned the lowest QB panic meter score entering 2026, signaling growing confidence in Caleb Williams and Chicago’s offense.
For once, there’s no anxiety around the quarterback position for the Chicago Bears.
That’s the takeaway from a new league-wide evaluation that placed the Bears at the bottom of the NFL’s quarterback panic meter heading into 2026.
In other words, no panic at all.
And after what Caleb Williams showed last season, it’s hard to argue.
Caleb Williams Quieted the Doubt in 2025
There was real pressure on Williams after his rookie year.
That comes with being the No. 1 overall pick, especially when another young quarterback like Jayden Daniels explodes onto the scene and shifts expectations across the league.
But Williams answered in 2025.
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The biggest difference showed up in the details. He cut his sacks from 68 as a rookie to 24 in his second season, a massive improvement that speaks to both his development and the structure around him.
That’s not a small jump. That’s a quarterback learning how to control the game. It also helped that his offensive line was significantly improved thanks to the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and the now-retired Drew Dalman.
Ben Johnson Helped Unlock Caleb Williams and the Offense
A lot of Williams' growth ties back to head coach Ben Johnson.
The pairing between Johnson and Williams looks like it’s working exactly how the Bears hoped. The offense became more efficient, more controlled, and far less chaotic than it was a year earlier.
Williams still makes off-script plays—that’s part of what makes him special—but now those moments feel intentional instead of necessary.
The end result? Caleb Williams set the Bears' single-season franchise passing record in 2025 and looks like he's on his way to becoming the team's first-ever 4,000-yard passer in 2026.
The Talent Was Always There for Williams
Even with the improvement, Williams didn’t lose what made him a generational prospect: his ability to make any throw at any moment from anywhere on the field.
That combination—structure plus creativity—is what separates good quarterbacks from great ones.
There's already chatter surrounding Williams as a viable 2026 NFL MVP candidate, and it's easy to understand why.
The Bears Finally Have Stability at Quarterback
The rest of Chicago's QB room matters too.
With Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum behind Williams, Chicago has a steady, experienced group that can support the starter without creating uncertainty.
That’s part of the reason the panic meter is so low.
In fact, Bagent has been the topic of offseason trade rumors. He has legitimate starting quarterback talent.
The Bigger Picture in Chicago
This is new territory for the Bears. For years, the quarterback position has been a revolving door of hope, then doubt, then change. Right now, it feels settled.
Indeed, nothing is guaranteed in 2026. Williams and Johnson must continue working to build on a promising 2025.
But one thing does feel certain: Bears fans have confidence in their quarterback.
