Chicago Bears Rookie Caleb Williams Will Break NFL Record Set by Aaron Rodgers?

Former USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are 4-9 heading into Week 15 of the NFL season. While it may not be the record they want, Williams is on pace to break a major NFL record set by Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, despite the former Trojan having his head coach and offensive coordinator fired during the season.

Williams has passed for 2,746 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed the ball for 405 yards. Despite being sacked 56 times already in 2024, Williams is on pace to finish with 3,590 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.

It has been over two months since Williams threw an interception dating back to Oct. 13 when the Bears faced the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has already broken the record of 212 straight passes without an interception by a rookie, previously set by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. If Williams keeps this up, he could surpass Rodgers’ all-time quarterback record.

Williams has thrown 255 straight passes without an interception. This puts him 157 away from Rodgers’ record of 402 passes. Rodgers, a four-time league MVP, accomplished that record in 2018 with the Green Bay Packers, and for Williams to do it as a rookie would be a huge feat.

In his three years of collegiate football, Williams threw just 14 interceptions. In 2022, his Heisman-winning year with the USC Trojans, Williams passed for 42 touchdowns and just five interceptions. While Williams isn’t afraid to throw the ball, he continues to limit turnovers.

MORE: USC Trojans expected to land Elite running back Shahn Alston over Penn State?

MORE: USC Trojans Football Schedule: Grueling Road Opponents, Exciting Home Field in 2025

MORE: USC Trojans’ Duce Robinson enters transfer portal: Georgia Bulldogs, SEC destination?

Even though the Bears are a four-win team, Williams has protected the ball. Chicago isn’t forcing Williams to play it safe, either. The team has continued to throw the ball and take shots down the court. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown talked a lot about how Williams has done well to play it safe but also not play scared.

“I will say that (he throws a lot of passes) and he doesn’t play scared either. He rips some footballs into tight windows. I think that’s probably even more impressive. It’s not like he’s sitting back and not taking advantage an opportunity. (He) takes chances down the field,” Brown said. “We always talk about trying to find ways to be aggressive, not reckless. There is a fine line between the two of them. I think his progression when it comes to understanding the offense operationally but also just letting it rip has been positive for us.”

The Bears have four games left this season, starting with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. The Vikings have forced 20 interceptions this season, and with it being a divisional game, it will be a tough game for the Bears. Chicago will also face the Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. Passing Rodgers’ record may be challenging, but it is possible for the rookie quarterback.

The record may not be broken this season, but it could be early next season if he doesn’t throw another interception. For Williams to break that this year, he would need to complete about 39 passes per game. match. This is an unlikely occurrence, so it may not happen as a rookie, and Bears fans may have to wait until early next year. While the record hasn’t been broken this season, it would be quite a feat for the rookie quarterback to close out the year without throwing another interception.