Caleb Williams has the ability to turn a broken play into something extraordinary. The Chicago Bears quarterback can evade pressure, adjust his throwing angle and deliver passes that seem unlikely to be completed. Those skills helped make him the first overall pick and remain a big reason the Bears believe they have a special player.
But former NFL offensive tackle Terron Armstead believes Williams can become even more effective by embracing the routine parts of quarterbacking.
Armstead, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who spent nine seasons protecting Drew Brees, said Williams does not need to create every big moment himself. With talent around him in Chicago, the quarterback can sometimes help the offense most by making the straightforward decision and letting his teammates contribute.
“Caleb is incredible. Elite talent, man,” Armstead said. “And yet his best could be allowing others to do more of the work.”
That advice has become especially relevant as Williams develops in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. The Bears reached their bye week with a 7-2 record, and Williams had shown substantial progress before a four-interception performance against Tampa Bay interrupted his momentum. Even in that difficult game, he helped set up Cairo Santos’ winning field goal.
The next step is making the ordinary stretches more dependable—not just producing when a play breaks down.
## Why simple decisions matter
Armstead saw a practical model for efficient quarterback play during his time with Brees. He described the priorities as straightforward: complete passes and avoid sacks. Consistently reading the defense and getting the ball to the appropriate place allowed the offense to move forward.
For Williams, that approach does not mean abandoning his athletic ability or limiting his creativity. It means recognizing when a difficult throw or escape is unnecessary.
Williams has described how his approach has changed over time. In high school, he said, he was always looking for opportunities to throw downfield. Checkdowns remained a relatively small part of his game in college, and during his rookie NFL season, he took too many sacks while making too few of those shorter throws.
As Williams has become more comfortable with the playbook, he has gained a clearer understanding of what each play is designed to accomplish. He is also learning to recognize when a defense has taken away the preferred option. When that happens, a short completion can be the right result.
A four-yard pass to an available receiver may not attract attention like a scramble followed by a throw across the field. But it can keep a drive on schedule, preserve options for the next play and give a playmaker a chance to beat a defender. It can also help the offense avoid facing a more difficult conversion later.
Johnson’s offense has players capable of turning manageable opportunities into significant gains. Williams does not have to force a highlight play every time he drops back. Sometimes, the best decision is to deliver the ball and trust the rest of the offense.
## Progress in the numbers—and a reminder against Tampa Bay
There are signs that Williams is increasingly allowing his teammates to make plays after the catch. This season, 53.9 percent of his passing yards have come after the catch, compared with 47 percent in 2025. That statistic reflects more than the quarterback’s decisions: play design, blocking and receivers’ work all contribute. Still, it aligns with an approach built around moving the ball through the offense’s available options.
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor has described the plan as taking the bigger opportunity when it is available and otherwise continuing to move the ball through the options presented by the offense.
The Tampa Bay game showed what can happen when Williams strays from that approach. He acknowledged being greedy on his first interception and said a checkdown would have been the better decision. Two more interceptions came on unsuccessful attempts to throw the ball away.
Those mistakes did not erase the progress Williams had made. They did, however, underline why routine decisions matter even for a quarterback with unusual ability to recover from trouble. A spectacular escape can save a play, but avoiding the need for a rescue can be just as valuable.
Armstead’s advice offers a useful standard for the second half of the season: Williams can remain the quarterback who makes extraordinary plays while becoming more consistent at taking the simple answer when it is there.
The Bears do not need him to stop being spectacular. They need him to pair that talent with sound decisions, including short completions and timely checkdowns. With capable playmakers around him, an ordinary throw can still lead to a dangerous play—and help make Chicago’s offense more reliable.
