NFL analyst doesn’t rule out Caleb Williams leading Bears to Super Bowl originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl. No rookie quarterback has ever competed in the Super Bowl in his first season.
But can Caleb Williams become the first?
“This is my bold prediction. Forget about guaranteeing the playoffs… I think Caleb could lead the Bears to the Super Bowl in his rookie season,” said Nick Wright on “First Things First” on FS1.
Why does Wright think this is possible, despite there being no evidence to suggest its likelihood?
“We saw rookie quarterbacks step in, be excellent and the team be a contender,” Wright said. “…The idea that rookie quarterbacks never step in and have success is belied by history. And this Bears team is, I think, a playoff team with slightly below-average quarterback play. They’ve had seven wins. team last year and they added [Rome] Odunze, they added Keenan Allen.”
In Wright’s opinion, there are rookie quarterbacks who have seen and found success in the playoffs. Last year we saw this when CJ Stroud led the Texans to the playoffs and led them to the divisional round. Dak made the divisional round with the Cowboys his rookie year.
To take it a step further, five quarterbacks in NFL history have played in a conference championship game. Shaun King of the Rams (2000), Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers (2005), Joe Flacco of the Ravens (2009), Mark Sanchez of the Jets (2010) and Brock Purdy of the 49ers (2023).
There, we can establish that rookie quarterbacks are not incapable of postseason success. Wright adds that the Bears’ schedule also favors an easy rise in his first year. They face five teams that are expected to struggle next season through the first 10 weeks, including the Patriots, Commanders, Cardinals, Panthers and Titans.
The Bears don’t play a divisional game until Week 11 when the Bears face the Packers. As the NFC North looks to be one of the league’s top divisions next season, starting 10 weeks without divisional opponents gives Williams time to get his act together first.
MORE: How the NFL put together the Bears’ 2024 schedule for Caleb Williams’ rookie season
We know Williams also has the confidence to make postseason success happen. Upon arriving in Chicago, he spoke to the team early on about his long-term goals of winning multiple championships and creating a football resume that could stand toe-to-toe with Tom Brady’s by the end of his career.
And as Wright mentioned, Williams is joining a team that appears ready to compete in the postseason. He has proven weapons in Allen, Odunze and DJ Moore. And the Bears’ defense finished phenomenally last season, finishing in the top five in scoring in recent weeks.
The momentum is on the Bears’ side, it’s a matter of how quickly the newcomers can come together before the start of the regular season. Outside of that component, Wright believes the Bears have the tools to make something special happen.
“In that weak NFC with that kind of momentum, without having to play any divisional games until the last third of his rookie season when he’s more experienced, I could see the Bears shocking everyone but me,” Wright said.
