Caleb Williams Wants to Be Bears' 1st 4K-Yard Passer, Complete 70% of Passes

Caleb Williams knows the Chicago Bears' lackluster history at the quarterback position, and he's ready to change it.

"Obviously, I have self goals," he told reporters Tuesday. "And that's being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears' history. That's a goal of mine. Seventy percent completion. That helps the team, keeps us on the field, puts us in better positions. Other than that, just try to go down and score the most points that we have with each drive."

Chicago remains the one franchise in NFL history to never have a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season, although Williams showed enough potential as a rookie to suggest he will eventually reach those marks.

He completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 489 yards on the ground. Only Erik Kramer and Jay Cutler have thrown for more yards in a single season for the Bears, and Williams reached that mark despite playing behind an offensive line that struggled and for a coaching staff that is no longer in place.

The Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after a number of mistakes and poor performances. And now they have a supporting cast around Williams that should help the quarterback succeed in his second season.

New head coach Ben Johnson helped revitalize the Detroit Lions and turn them from one of the NFL's worst franchises to a playoff team as the offensive coordinator. The front office also addressed the massive needs at offensive line by adding Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson.

Throw in the additions of pass-catchers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III to a group of weapons that already included DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, and the pieces are in place for a potential playoff run.

For his part, Johnson gave Williams some homework over the summer:

With an offensive-minded head coach, strong group of weapons around him and a revamped offensive line, it is reasonable to expect Williams to take a significant jump from his first to second year in the league.

When he does, that 4,000-yard mark will finally happen for the Bears.