NFL Coaches Believe Caleb Williams Is on the Verge of Joining the NFL's Elite Quarterbacks

Jul 29, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball during Training Camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Today is a day many in the media and some fans look forward to. Mike Sando of The Athletic has released his annual quarterback tiers. This list ranks all 32 quarterbacks in the NFL based on the opinions of NFL coaches and executives. Thus, this list holds a lot of weight and can help solidify some fans' opinions of players. Caleb Williams enters this season in tier two, tied for 11th. While that's already exciting for Bears fans, there's another nugget from an executive that will excite fans even more.

One NFL Executive Believes Caleb Williams Can Become Elite in 2026

Before diving into what the executive said, it's worth understanding how Sando's quarterback tiers are defined.

Tier 1: Carries his team each week, the team wins because of him, expertly handles pure-passing situations, and has no real holes in his game.

Tier two qualifiers: Carries his team sometimes, handles pure-passing situations in doses, or has other dimensions that elevate him above Tier 3, has a hole or two in his game

Tier three: Legit starter but needs better running game or defense to win, lower-volume dropback passing offense suits him best.

Tier four: Unproven player; not enough information to classify, veteran who ideally would not be a full-season starter

Caleb Williams' rise from Tier 3 to Tier 2

Last year, Williams entered the season as a tier-three quarterback. Based on his performance in 2024, which was fair, even though the coaching was clearly the problem. While Williams took strides in 2025, he still has lots of room to grow this year, which is why his being put in tier two is understandable.

That said, the fact that one NFL exec believes he can become a tier one quarterback isn't that shocking.

I think Caleb’s going from a 2 to a possible 1

This comment is significant because it shows that people around the league believe Williams has the traits necessary to become one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. It also shows that evaluators don't believe his rookie struggles under Matt Eberflus defined his career trajectory.

Most Bears fans already believe Williams has what it takes to become a superstar in this league. However, hearing that belief come from someone inside the NFL adds another level of confidence that his development is heading in the right direction.

What Caleb Williams needs to do to become Tier 1

If Williams truly wants to make the leap into Tier 1 next season, he will need to improve in a few key areas.

The biggest thing he has to achieve is raising his completion percentage from 58%. Too many missed routine throws stalled drives and prevented the Bears' offense from reaching its full potential.

If Williams becomes more efficient with the easy completions, everything else about his game should improve as well.

For instance, Williams needs to lead a more consistent offense in terms of moving the ball and scoring points throughout the game. Raising his completion percentage would help the offense stay on the field longer and put them in better positions to score.

Of course, improving his efficiency doesn't mean Williams needs to change what makes him special. His ability to make plays outside of structure and complete throws that most quarterbacks can't is what made him such a highly regarded prospect in the first place

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If Williams can combine those special plays with improved accuracy and more consistency as a passer, there's no reason why he can't become a Tier 1 quarterback in the NFL.