Bears QB Caleb Williams is a much-needed light in the darkness as their season comes to an end

For the Bears, it’s usually complete oblivion once they reach the point where their season is unsalvageable and facing another dark, playoff-less winter. One way or another they seem to end up here every December.

However, this time it is different.

This time hope still shines. Yes, this season is over, but rookie quarterback Caleb Williams remains a ray of light, illuminating a future that could be much brighter. Coming off a six-game losing streak and a coaching change following the firing of Matt Eberflus on Friday, Williams was as confident Wednesday as he was the day he arrived at Halas Hall.

He will not be broken by the bears like many before him.

“This is a stepping stone for development,” he said. “Having all of this in my first year – I wouldn’t say I’m happy about it, but having these moments is definitely something that will help me in the future.”

“It would help me deal with all of this in the long run. Down the line, I’ll have different offensive coordinators or different head coaches or whatever the case may be. So if I can deal with it in the first year, it will definitely help development instead of hurting it.”

He ended his press conference as he always did: with a “Da Bears” into the microphone. Nothing about the tumult seemed to have worn him down. Even if you don’t trust this organization, you can’t help but believe in this child.

Williams is wildly optimistic, and the Bears have never been more desperate for it than they are now. No one in their building has as much influence over their future success as he does, and at 23 years old, he stepped in front of the microphone and hit the right note better than anyone in the organization who tried this week.

In addition to dealing with the chaos of the firings of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and Eberflus in his rookie season – with whom he had been plotting his future since February – Williams must also navigate the relentless NFL schedule that calls for his team to finish on Sunday 49ers visits Finally, there are currently four opponents in the playoff field: the Vikings, Lions, Seahawks and Packers.

Between analyzing the debacle at the end of last week’s Lions game, which gave Eberflus a decisive victory toward elimination, and the difficult home stretch ahead, Williams also largely moved the Bears forward.

He was responsible for his part in the Detroit game, saying he had to move faster and pay more attention and vowed to learn from it. He sympathized with Eberflus – “The human aspect weighs on you a little bit, especially because this is my first year, this is my first head coach drafting me,” he said – and didn’t back down from any question about cornerback Jaylon Johnson’s from confrontation after the game with Eberflus.

“I came in and said things out of frustration, feeling like we should have won the game, feeling like we should have done this or that,” he said, not specifying whether that was with the Bears or happened somewhere else. “It’s hard when you don’t win. We have to make sure that we don’t do that and that things don’t come to light. This is an internal matter.”

Then he turned it over. Describing Johnson’s boiling frustration, Williams noted that it must be crazy to spend five seasons with a team constantly disappointed by its lack of wins and playoff success, admitting, “It’s kind of bleak right now.” , but said without hesitation: “It’ll all happen.”

When else has the quarterback of a 4-8 team promised that – and you actually buy it? That makes the difference.

Despite all the ups and downs of Williams’ rookie season, he appears to have corrected his course and given the Bears something to build on. In his last three games, all against strong defenses, he has completed 64.1% of his passes, averaged 275.7 yards and thrown five touchdown passes with no interceptions, for a passer rating of 99.2.

He’s one of the few things that looks good on this team. And if the Bears did just one thing right, there would be nothing more important than the quarterback.

Williams has shown a strong bond with interim coach Thomas Brown, who stepped in for Waldron three weeks ago and was instrumental in his latest move forward. Brown remains an offensive player and promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to offensive coordinator to give him some responsibility as he took over the top job.

When asked about Williams’ trajectory and whether he expected to now put the typical rookie turmoil behind him, Brown kept it simple and general.

“All I expect is to give the best from everyone every day,” he said. “I try to give them my best, Caleb and everyone else. It’s my job to get the best out of our players. Provide information, hold them accountable, promote them.”

He’s already helped Williams progress with a more engaging coaching style that doesn’t let mistakes slide but still shows him grace and reminds him to breathe. He didn’t simplify the offense, but the play calls came to him quicker and smarter and he helped clarify how Williams makes his reads.

There’s nothing the Bears need more from Brown than maintaining these gains. The last five games have become a milestone for Williams heading into 2025, and a fantastic finish to his rookie season would provide optimism to an organization waiting for it.