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An interview with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is resurfacing and drawing attention during the team's NFL offseason.

The Chicago Bears let safety Kevin Byard III walk in free agency, and the first-team All-Pro took some strong opinions on quarterback Caleb Williams with him to the New England Patriots.

Byard spent the first two years of Williams’ career with him in Chicago and came away believing that the 24-year-old signal-caller is among the most clutch players in the NFL already, with nowhere to go but up.

“Well, he already has then nickname “Iceman,” and the reason why is — young quarterbacks, they’re gonna 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,” Byard said.

“We had, I think it was like eight games last year, that we needed him to make a play towards the end of the game, and he made ’em,” Byard continued. “His trajectory, sky is truly the limit with this guy. … Personally, I truly believe that he’s going to be an MVP one day, and I think it’s probably gonna be sooner than later.”

Kevin Byard’s Praise Telling With Regards to Caleb Williams’ NFL Future

GettyFormer Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III.

That praise for Williams is ridiculously high, particularly considering the source.

Byard is a 10-year veteran and three time Pro Bowler/first-team All-Pro performer in the league. Last year in Chicago at the age of 32, he led the NFL with seven interceptions and added eight pass breakups.

He knows quarterbacks as well as any defensive player in the game, consistently making splash plays to ruin their Sundays, so his words should carry significant weight with regards to Williams’ talent and career trajectory.

Ben Johnson’s Arrival in Chicago Has Worked Wonders for Caleb Williams

GettyHead coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears.

Byard also noted the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson after Williams’ rookie campaign and how he reset some of the habits that plagued the former No. 1 overall pick in first professional season.

Williams’ sack total dropped from a league-leading 68 across 17 games in 2024 to just 24 sacks last season. He continued to protect the football well, following up a six-interception rookie year with only seven INTs in 2025.

He set the franchise’s passing record with 3,942 yards last year, topping 3,500 yards for the second straight campaign. Williams has added 47 touchdowns passes, as well as 877 rushing yards and three scores on the ground, across two seasons (34 starts).

The Bears captured their first NFC North Division title since 2018 last year and won their first playoff game since 2010 via an 18-point second-half comeback over the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field during the Wildcard Round.

Williams made an unbelievable touchdown pass off his back foot on fourth down late in the fourth quarter of Chicago’s Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams to force overtime, where he was leading a drive to win the contest before throwing an untimely interception.

The young QB remains prone to playing hero ball and sometimes juxtaposes his elite playmaking by missing passes players well below his paygrade make on a regular basis. Williams’ accuracy also leaves something to be desired, as he has a 60.3 percent completion rate for his career and connected on just 58.1 percent of his pass attempts in 2025.