NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt sends a scary message to the NFL about what Bears QB Caleb Williams will do in 2026
The Chicago Bears had a strong season in the first year under head coach Ben Johnson and the team can reach even more heights in 2026 if quarterback Caleb Williams can take that next big leap going into Year 3.
The Chicago Bears put the rest of the NFL on edge during the 2026 season, the team’s first season under head coach Ben Johnson, that included an 11-win season and a trip to the NFC’s Divisional Round.
It wasn’t the jump even Bears fans expected to see in Year 1 under this new leadership and the jump in Year 2 could be even bigger saying quarterback Caleb Williams can take that next big leap in his game.
As good as the Bears were last season, Williams was still frustratingly inconsistent on a play-to-play basis but had some of the brightest moments of any player in the league when it mattered most. The goal now for 2026 is getting Williams to play at that kind of level more consistently.
After seeing the jump he had from his rookie year to his sophomore year, it’s easy to see how Williams can take that next step with another year in this offense. And one national analyst believes it’s going to get scary in Chicago.
NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt sees big things on the way for Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams
The Good Morning Football crew on NFL Network debated which quarterback would make the biggest leap in 2026. Kyle Brandt, a known Bears fan, chose Williams as his option but had a strong take to back it up.
“He made a jump last year. You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Brandt claimed. “I do think that this guy has another jump in him, and so does his coach.”
As I mentioned, going into the second season under the same system is going to be huge for Williams’ growth this upcoming season. Johnson has been hammering the 70 percent completion bar and Williams recognizes that as an area he can improve at.
After hearing from Johnson after he watched back the tape from 2025, the encouraging part is that Williams wasn’t that far off from what the numbers showed. And Williams is determined to improve his game and become one of the top quarterbacks in this league.
“I think Caleb has another jump after this year even,” Brandt added. “He has unlimited jump potential and space to be one of the most talented guys in the entire league. If you thought last year was a rock concert for him, that was just the opening act. I think next year it’s going to be astronomical. This guy’s going to be in the MVP conversation, all of it is on the board.”
Williams clearly has the talent to be one of the top quarterbacks in this league and has a willingness to be coached and get better. You pair that with one of the top offensive minds, you’re going to eventually get something really really special. Even if it doesn’t fully click in 2026, it will eventually and Williams will be the star of the NFL.