Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has elevated his game early in the 2026 season. Despite playing only 3.5 games, Williams has been Chicago’s most valuable player by far. The difference with him under center is night and day. The offense flows more smoothly, opposing defenses are constantly on their heels, and it genuinely feels like Chicago is never out of a game with Williams leading the way.
That raises an interesting question: Where does Williams stand in the early race for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award? The MVP has become a quarterback-dominated honor, with Adrian Peterson in 2012 marking the last time a non-quarterback won the award. As Williams enters his third NFL season, his impressive start makes him an intriguing early candidate to challenge the league’s established stars.
Williams’ MVP Odds Sit at +3000
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
According to bet365’s NFL MVP odds, Williams sits at +3000, placing him among the seven likeliest players to win the award. However, the company he keeps on the odds board is interesting, to say the least. Williams is tied with Jared Goff, who is having a solid season. Still, when comparing the two quarterbacks’ value to their respective teams, Williams has a compelling case to rank higher.
The six players ahead of Williams include several expected contenders, such as Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and current odds-on favorite Josh Allen. There is no denying Williams’ talent or importance to the Bears. However, the early odds suggest the third-year quarterback has yet to earn the same recognition as some of his peers. Whether that stems from head coach Ben Johnson’s reputation as an offensive mastermind or the talent surrounding Williams remains difficult to pinpoint. Regardless, Williams has shown enough to warrant consideration among the league’s top MVP candidates.
Williams’ Case Was Made After Week 5
After the Bears were crushed by the Packers in Week 5, one thing became clear: Chicago needed Williams back, and it needed him back as soon as possible. Green Bay does not have a defense as strong as Atlanta’s or New England’s, yet the Packers showed no fear of facing a Bears offense without Williams. They attacked aggressively, demoralizing Chicago’s offense while energizing their own defense.
With Williams back in the lineup over the past two weeks, Atlanta and New England could not afford to play as aggressively as Green Bay. Instead, they had to remain on their heels, and even that approach was not enough to contain him. The third-year quarterback made spectacular plays look routine against two formidable defenses, helping Chicago secure consecutive wins.
Those performances strengthened Williams’ MVP case. His impact goes beyond the box score: He changes how opposing defenses approach the Bears, gives the offense a different level of confidence, and makes Chicago far more dangerous in competitive games. If Williams continues playing at this level and the Bears keep winning, his odds could improve considerably as the season progresses.
There’s still a lot of football to play. There’s a lot that can unfold between now and NFL Honors Night. If Williams continues his strong play, he will be a prime candidate and maybe even become an odds-on favorite.
More on the Chicago Bears
- How Rome Odunze Helped Push Bears to Victory in Week 7
- Bears Week 7 Snap Counts Show Luther Burden III Blasting for 130 Yards and Cairo Santos Redemption
- Reasonable or Overreaction? 3 Bears Takes After Week 7 Win Over Patriots
- Bears’ Week 7 Win Over Patriots Was Much Stronger Than Score Indicates
