Bears QB Caleb Williams named MVP candidate by ESPN analyst

Caleb Williams enters his third NFL season with the Chicago Bears after a strong 2025 season. The Bears finished 11-6, won their first NFC North title since 2018, and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The 24-year-old quarterback played a key role in helping Chicago reach those milestones.

Williams set a franchise record with 3,942 passing yards during his sophomore campaign. He also finished the 2025 season with 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The young signal-caller earned Bears Offensive Player of the Year honors following his standout performance.

Williams delivered some of his biggest plays during the postseason, beginning with a victory over the Green Bay Packers. He erased an 18-point deficit with a 25-yard game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore in the NFC Wild Card round.

One week later, he nearly did it again against the Los Angeles Rams. Williams threw a dramatic 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet with 18 seconds left. That play tied the game at 17-17 and forced overtime. However, the Rams ultimately won, ending the Bears’ postseason run.

Those remarkable performances have led some national NFL analysts to believe Williams will have another strong campaign.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on during warmups before an NFC Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams receives 2026 MVP backing from ESPN’s Peter Schrager

During a recent broadcast of ESPN’s “First Take,” ESPN analyst Peter Schrager said Williams could become a serious MVP contender in the upcoming season.

“From just the usual regression from a great year, I expect Caleb to be in the MVP conversation,” Schrager said. “I love his game. And if he does the little things, which he did a lot of last year, and that was the criticism going in, why not?”

Schrager also expressed optimism about Chicago’s outlook entering the new season.

“The sky is the limit for Chicago guys,” he said. “I really am high on them right now. And I know it’s late July, but that’s okay because last year, again, no one had Seattle going this far, and they were hoisting the Lombardi at the end of the year.”

Schrager was referring to the previous NFL season, when the Seahawks were widely viewed as underdogs before surprising everyone with a Super Bowl win.

The Bears’ veterans reported to Halas Hall on Tuesday for training camp. Chicago will hold its first full practice on Wednesday as preparations for the new campaign continue.

With expectations rising, Williams will try to build on his breakout year and establish himself among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. The 2026 season gives him a chance to prove that last campaign’s success was no fluke.