It was another tough game for the Chicago Bears, this time against the strong Detroit Lions. The first half was brutal offensively as they failed to even crack 80 yards. But quarterback Caleb Williams again didn’t give in to the pressure. He kept his composure and continued shooting. All the while, he was inching closer and closer to an NFL record that no one ever thought possible for a Bears quarterback. Then, in the third quarter, it happened. Williams threw 212 consecutive passes without an interception, breaking Kyler Murray’s record of 211 set in 2019.

What makes it even better is the way it happened. Williams broke the ball to Keenan Allen for a 31-yard touchdown, finally putting the Bears on the field. It also set the franchise record for most touchdown passes by a rookie quarterback (12), previously held by Charlie O’Rourke with 11.

Caleb Williams has everything it takes to be a franchise quarterback.

Athletic, precise, tough and resilient, he manages to protect the football without being overly cautious. Previous names like Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky, Jay Cutler and Rex Grossman never seemed to avoid at least one costly move each week. Caleb Williams isn’t immune to mistakes, but it’s obvious he has a natural instinct for how to avoid them. That may be because he spent so many years watching Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback he idolized as a child. That may not have helped the Bears overcome deficits elsewhere in 2024, but there’s no evidence that Williams is legitimate.

He needs more consistent protection and a coaching staff that can put him in the best position for success. If the Bears play their cards right this offseason, both problems could be solved in one fell swoop.