Former Bears Star Predicts Caleb Williams Will Win NFL MVP

Kevin Byard believes the Bears QB has the potential to be a future league MVP.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:11am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting Caleb Williams in action, with sharp planes of navy blue, orange, and white representing the dynamic movements and plays of the Bears quarterback.Former Bears star Kevin Byard sees a future MVP in quarterback Caleb Williams after his breakout 2025 season.Chicago Today

Former Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard, who now plays for the New England Patriots, had high praise for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Byard believes Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, will eventually win the NFL MVP award, potentially sooner than later. Despite an up-and-down rookie season, Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 record and a division title in 2025, earning the nickname 'Iceman' for his clutch late-game performances.

Why it matters

The Bears have been searching for a franchise quarterback for decades, and Williams' development is crucial to the team's long-term success. Byard's bold prediction that Williams will become an MVP-caliber player adds to the growing hype and expectations surrounding the young QB.

The details

In his rookie season, Williams set the Bears' franchise record for most total yards by a rookie QB with 4,030, throwing for 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions while also rushing for 489 yards. However, he also took a league-high 68 sacks. In 2025, Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 record and a division title, earning the 'Iceman' nickname for his clutch late-game heroics.

  • Caleb Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
  • In his rookie season in 2024, Williams set the Bears' franchise record for most total yards by a rookie QB.
  • In 2025, Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 record and a division title.

The players

Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After an up-and-down rookie season, Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 record and a division title in 2025, earning the nickname 'Iceman' for his clutch late-game performances.

Kevin Byard

A former Chicago Bears safety who now plays for the New England Patriots. Byard believes Williams has the potential to win the NFL MVP award, potentially sooner than later.

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What they’re saying

“He already has the nickname Iceman, and the reason why, young quarterbacks are going to need time to develop but when you talk about game on the line and we need him to make a play, there's really nobody I'd rather have under center.”

— Kevin Byard, Former Bears Safety

“His trajectory, the sky is truly the limit with this guy, if he continues to develop and become a better passer, a better everything, he's still very young. I think when you talk about quarterbacks coming from college, the game is so different, most of these guys have never taken a snap under center, Ben Johnson came in and reconstructed everything. The sky is the limit for this guy, I think personally he's going to be MVP one day, and I think it'll be sooner than later.”

— Kevin Byard, Former Bears Safety

What’s next

As Williams enters his third NFL season, the focus will be on him building on his strong 2025 campaign and proving he can consistently perform at a high level. If he can lead the Bears to the playoffs again and continue to make clutch plays, the MVP talk will only grow louder.

The takeaway

Caleb Williams' development is crucial for the Bears, who have been searching for a franchise quarterback for decades. While he had an up-and-down rookie season, Williams' impressive 2025 campaign has former teammate Kevin Byard believing he has the potential to become an NFL MVP, potentially sooner than later.