Two years ago, the Bears stood at the podium with the No. 1 pick and a franchise-altering decision.
Now, they’re watching another team do the same.
And for Caleb Williams, the message is clear:
The chase never stops.
Caleb Williams Faces Relentless Pressure as Fernando Mendoza Enters the NFL
At the 2024 combine, the Bears were the center of the football universe. No. 1 overall pick. Franchise quarterback waiting to be crowned.
Caleb Williams was the obvious choice.
Now it’s 2026 — and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza stands in that exact spotlight.
Reigning Heisman winner. National champion. Consensus top prospect.
And a reminder that in the NFL, no throne stays uncontested for long.
The Never-Ending Race
The Bears are still building.
They’re still chasing the elite tier of quarterbacks.
But while they look upward — at Mahomes, Allen, Burrow — they also have to glance sideways.
Because every year, a new challenger arrives.
Mendoza is next.
The Raiders, Jets, and Cardinals all need quarterbacks. The expectation is that Las Vegas, armed with Tom Brady’s influence, will make Mendoza the face of its rebuild.
And if Brady signs off on him, the signal will be loud.
A Different Tone Than Williams
Where Williams once confidently declared he would be the No. 1 pick, Mendoza struck a humbler note.
“Right now I’m unemployed. This is my job interview.”
Different personalities. Same pressure.
Mendoza completed 72% of his passes last season, threw 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. The production is real.
And so is the expectation.
The Inevitable Comparison
Williams and Mendoza already have history.
In 2023, when Mendoza was at Cal and Williams at USC, they met in a 50–49 thriller. Williams threw for 369 yards and two scores. Mendoza nearly stole it, but a two-point attempt in the final minute fell incomplete.
Now, the rematch looms on a much larger stage — potentially in 2027 when the Bears are scheduled to visit Las Vegas.
By then, both quarterbacks will be deep into their development arcs.
And one will likely be judged against the other.
Williams’ Reality Check
Caleb Williams improved in Year 2 under Ben Johnson.
He finished:
Top 7 in passing yards (3,942)
Top 7 in touchdowns (27)
Elite interception rate (1.2%)
But the flaws remain glaring:
22nd in passer rating (90.1)
Last in completion percentage (58.1%)
To be viewed as a true top-10 quarterback, those numbers must climb.
And quickly.
Because Mendoza — and others — are coming.
The Harsh NFL Ecosystem
The league doesn’t allow slow growth without consequence.
It’s a zero-sum system.
If the Raiders hit on Mendoza, that’s one more rising obstacle for Chicago.
If the Vikings find stability at quarterback. If the Packers’ young core ascends. If the Lions stay elite.
Every franchise quarterback success narrows the margin for everyone else.
Williams isn’t just chasing greatness.
He’s defending his position in the hierarchy.
The Contract Clock Is Ticking
The next step for Williams isn’t just statistical.
It’s financial.
A landmark extension looms if he proves he’s the guy.
But those deals are reserved for quarterbacks who:
Elevate efficiency
Deliver consistency
Stack playoff success
Flashes aren’t enough.
Sustained dominance is the standard.
Bottom Line
Caleb Williams is no longer the shiny new toy.
He’s the hunted.
Fernando Mendoza represents the next wave — the next headline — the next potential franchise changer.
The Bears wanted this competition when they drafted Williams.
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