Caleb Williams Gets Surprising Spot on Colin Cowherd's Top 10 QB List
The Chicago Bears had a magical run this past season thanks to their young quarterback, Caleb Williams, who emerged as an exciting playmaker capable not only of making highlight throws but also of making clutch throws that helped his team win games.
Among the biggest examples came when he led his team to an overtime win against the Green Bay Packers during the regular season and to overtime of the NFC Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams. Williams, aka “Iceman,” nearly had his team playing in the NFC Championship with a shot at the Super Bowl.
And that has Bears fans quite excited about the future with Williams as QB1, since the team hasn’t had a major star at that position in forever. The former USC Heisman Trophy winner took the Bears from basement dwellers in the NFC North to the top of the division.
However, is that enough to have him rated among the league’s best quarterbacks entering this upcoming season? FS1 sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd believes so based on his recently unveiled list of the top 10 at the position.
More news:NFL Schedule Has 49ers Setting Travel Record in Upcoming Season: Report
According to Cowherd, the best overall quarterback is the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, with whom most will agree. Despite never winning a Super Bowl or making it to the Super Bowl, Allen has proven it over his time in the NFL and continues to show it.
Cowherd followed Allen with Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, which may or may not be accurate depending on how things go with his recovery and rehabilitation from surgery for torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee. Still, he’s got the resume to show he’s elite.
And then the FS1 sports personality opted for the Bears’ Williams as his third-best quarterback heading into the 2026-27 NFL season. It’s a surprising pick by Cowherd, as many Bears fans might be hyped after what he did last season and what else could be on the way, but it seems premature this early in Williams’ career.
Last season, the Iceman threw 330-of-568 completions for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Bears finished 11-6, not only claiming first place in the NFC North but also the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs, giving them several home games.
Cowherd specified that he developed his top 10 QB rankings based on “production, durability, and where is your momentum?”
He also mentioned that Williams threw 47 touchdowns and 13 picks without getting hurt in his first two years in the league, which is impressive for a young quarterback. That certainly speaks to production and durability, but what about his momentum?
With the team trending upward last season, the division looks even more competitive this season. The Minnesota Vikings upgraded their quarterback room by adding Kyler Murray, potentially solving their JJ McCarthy issue and putting themselves back in contention for the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Rounding out Cowherd’s top five were the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford, the latter of whom won the NFL Most Valuable Player for this past season.
And surprisingly, another player who was vying for that MVP and led his team to the Super Bowl, Drake Maye of the New England Patriots, appears at No. 8 on Cowherd’s list.
However, the FS1 star believes that, based on how Williams is trending, he is the third-best heading into the new season. It seems this season could show he’s the real deal, or he’ll regress to his previous form in a disappointing fashion for Bears fans.
The good news for Williams: he’s got Ben Johnson, a coach who truly understands the best ways to work him into the offense and is invested in him succeeding at the quarterback spot.
More news:Tom Brady Throws Shade at Cowboys Fans During Kevin Hart Roast
For more about the Chicago Bears and the NFL, visit Newsweek Sports.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 9:15 PM.