Caleb Williams Discusses Potentially Making Bears History as 1st 4K-Yard Passer

Caleb Williams is hoping to become the first Chicago Bears quarterback to throw for at least 4,000 yards in a season because it would help the team advance its goals as the potential No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Williams addressed the possibility of hitting the 4,000-yard mark in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions:

"I think for me, it'd be cool just in the sense of, there's never been one here. I think I was brought here for those types of things and those types of moments, the things that haven't been done here, to try and be able to accomplish.

"Like I've said before, the self goals and all of that always get swept under when you go for the team goals, and that's winning ballgames, so that's first and foremost on my mind. That's first and foremost for this team, because the most important thing is winning ballgames and heading into the playoffs with some momentum and some good energy."

Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that it would "be great" if Williams hit the milestone, but the most important thing for the Bears is getting a win over the Lions.

"If it were to happen that'd be great, but I think he would agree with me when I say our No. 1 objective is to win this ball game," Johnson said. "Whatever that takes, that's our goal. We'll see where it's at at the end of the year. But that's tertiary."

Williams enters Week 18 needing 270 yards against the Lions to reach the milestone. He has four games already this season with at least 270 passing yards, including a season-high 330 in Sunday's loss against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Even though the Bears were instrumental in making the forward pass as it exists in football today thanks to Bronco Nagurski in the 1932 NFL Championship Game, they have famously struggled to find consistent success at the quarterback position for decades.

One big statistical nugget from the Bears' passing futility is they are the only active NFL franchise that has never had a 4,000-yard passer in a season. Erik Kramer currently holds their single-season yards record with 3,838 in 1995.

Williams holds two of the top six individual yardage seasons in Bears history, including his rookie year that was widely viewed as a disappointment.

Chicago lost its first meeting with the Lions 52-21 back in Week 2, but things have improved significantly for the team since then. Williams threw for 207 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and was sacked a season-high four times in that game.

The Bears have every incentive to play their starters and win Sunday's game. They can secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win or a loss by the Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Commanders.

If Chicago loses and Philadelphia wins on Sunday, the Bears will be the No. 3 seed in the NFC. They would host either the 49ers or Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round in that scenario.