The wind is hardly ever blowing in the Chicago Bears direction.
Founded in 1920, there has been plenty of losing in the Windy City – a franchise that has delivered only one Super Bowl in its history. And for a team that’s calling card has always been defense – see: 1985 Bears – it only makes sense that the offense is left behind.
As passing attacks light up the skies across the NFL landscape, only the Bears have continued to fall short in one category – passing yards.
They remain the one team in NFL history without a 4,000 yard passer to caller their own. The hope is that new head coach Ben Johnson is going to change that with Caleb Williams running the show on offense.
With just one playoff win since 2010, a better passing offense isn’t the only thing on fan’s wish list, but it’s a start. Here’s what to know about the Bears’ single season passing yards leaders.
Have the Bears ever had a 4,000 yard passer?
The Bears are the only team in the NFL to not have a 4,000 yard passer in franchise history.
Erik Kramer came the closest of any signal caller in Bears’ history, throwing for 3,838 yards in 1995. Jay Cutler posted three seasons with north of 3,500 passing yards, but also failed to hit that elusive number.
Williams is hoping to buck that trend in 2025 after throwing for 3,541 yards in his rookie season. Given the ineptitude of the Bears in 2024, the new-look coaching staff figures to put the young quarterback in a much better spot this time around – and for good reason.
Johnson’s offenses have shined in recent years as Jared Goff emerged in a way that few saw coming. With the new Bears’ head coach calling plays for the Lions over the last three seasons, Goff averaged over 4,547 yards in that span.
His offenses were built off strong offensive line play, a dominant rushing attack and the play action that follows. It’s nothing fancy but it’s certainly effective.
Williams only needs to average 235.2 passing yards per game to hit that mark for the first time in Bears history. With all the weapons at his disposal, it stands to reason that the second-year Bears quarterback is in prime position to deliver in 2025.
Bears most passing yards in a season
Kramer and Cutler headline the list of quarterbacks with the most passing yards in a season for the Bears. Williams etched his name onto the list in 2024, but hopes to headline it with a successful sophomore season in the Windy City:
Erik Kramer, 1995: 3,838
Jay Cutler, 2014: 3,812
Jay Cutler, 2009: 3,666
Jay Cutler, 2015: 3,659
Caleb Williams, 2024: 3,541