Caleb Williams is taking way too many sacks, and the Bears have to fix it before it's too late
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a number of impressive plays against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
During Thursday’s home game, Williams showed off his ability to throw on the run, to find receivers in the most difficult circumstances, to turn disasters into opportunities and to recognize weaknesses in a defense.
Williams also showed how the Bears are going to have to make sure giving him the right coach and a really good offensive line will be at the top of their priorities list going into next offseason.
Williams took a ridiculous seven sacks to Seattle’s defense during the 6-3 loss, one where the game-sealing Williams interception came with heavy pressure in his face as he made the final throw.
PICKED! The Riq Woolen comes down the interception for the @Seahawks to seal it. pic.twitter.com/i01rH3XeDd
— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024
Rookie quarterbacks are going to make mistakes. They’re going to get sacked. Most rookies struggle to put wins on the board as they acclimate to the rigors of NFL competition, too.
Williams is not exempt from rookie woes, but the amount of sacks he has taken this season so far (67!!!) is beyond unacceptable for the Bears. In fact, it is an embarrassment for a franchise that has been gifted a truly special talent at quarterback. That staggering number does not even include the times Williams has been hit by a defender but still able to get the ball out.
The @Seahawks with their seventh sack right before the two-minute warning#SEAvsCHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/syCt9TA6F3— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024
For contrast, Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels (38 sacks), Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix (22 sacks) and New England Patriots rookie Drake Maye (29 sacks) have all taken far, far fewer sacks than Williams has this year.
You can tell just by looking at Williams on the sideline recently what the effect of all of these sacks is having on him. It’s not great!
Right now, Williams leads the NFL in sacks taken by a quarterback with his 67, ahead of C.J. Stroud’s 52 sacks taken as of Thursday night. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is third on the list with 48 sacks taken.
Williams is somehow, with one game left left on Chicago’s schedule against the sack-happy Green Bay Packers, the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL since 2005, when former Houston Texans quarterback David Carr took 68 sacks in the season.
Carr holds the NFL record for sacks taken in a season with 76 in 2002, his rookie campaign. While Williams might not take that many sacks to close the year, he will still end his rookie campaign with a historic amount of sacks taken in one season.
Make that SIX @Seahawks sacks#SEAvsCHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uVqHTmdFio— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024
Former Commanders quarterback Sam Howell took 65 sacks last season in his second year in the league, and he is now backing up Smith in Chicago. Howell always had an uphill climb to being a starting NFL quarterback, but the volume of sacks he took with Washington really hurt those slim odds.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young took 62 sacks last season, and it took a benching this season to help him find his groove again. That amount of sacks absolutely hindered Young in his rookie season and likely carried over to his sophomore struggles before the benching.
Not to be too dramatic, but this is blaring-red-sirens bad for the Bears that Williams might hit 70 sacks by the end of the year.
Not every sack Williams takes is on his offensive line, of course. Some were his fault. Chicago is going to have to get in a better coaching staff in place to teach their first-overall quarterback how to avoid as many sacks as possible.
Another @Seahawks sack!#SEAvsCHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Z2g1bA32qa— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024
When it’s not the quarterback’s fault, the Bears’ offensive line is going to have to be astronomically better than it is now to keep him upright as much as possible.
Outside of right tackle Darnell Wright, the entire Chicago offensive line should get overhauled this offseason. Honestly, the Bears need to take their projected $82 million in 2025 cap space and ample 2025 NFL Draft capital and invest in as great an offensive line as they can get.
Williams’ career will depend on it. Taking nearly 70 sacks in your rookie season can be incredibly damaging. Carr’s career in Houston was in part derailed because the franchise could never protect him properly. Do not discount the danger Chicago has put Williams in this season behind this poor offensive line. He’s not afforded the cushion to make his rookie mistakes because of how lackluster the play up front has been.
The @Seahawks bring the heat and get the sack#SEAvsCHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PqrZ2UI0qY— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024
If the Bears want to break the Sid Luckman streak of not finding their franchise quarterback, they’re going to have to give Williams a fighting chance on game day. That means equipping him with the best offensive line the team can find and the best offensive-minded coaching staff to teach him how to stay out of harm’s way.
Williams really is Chicago’s best chance to settle the quarterback position for the next decade-plus. If this franchise fails at keeping him safe from unnecessary sacks, they’ll waste a golden opportunity to rewrite history.
As far as the present goes, it’s hard not to feel like Chicago is actively letting a truly special quarterback slip through its fingers, one ugly sack at a time.
The @Seahawks end the half with a sack!#SEAvsCHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1Ub9eSMIIQ— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2024