Caleb Williams has a chance Sunday against the Detroit Lions to do something that no Chicago Bears quarterback has ever accomplished in the franchise’s 106 years of existence.

Have a 4,000-yard passing season.

Williams enters the game at Soldier Field with 3,730 passing yards this season, just 270 away from him becoming the first Bears player to throw for 4,000.

[READ: Why Ben Johnson, Bears pushing hard to beat Lions, earn NFC No. 2 playoff seed]

With that number well within striking distance, Bears head coach Ben Johnson should do whatever it takes to put Williams in position for the milestone. 

“I think for me, it’d be cool just in the sense of, there’s never been one here,” Williams said Wednesday. “I think I was brought here for those types of things and those types of moments, the things that haven’t been done here, to try and be able to accomplish. Like I’ve said before, the self goals and all of that always get swept under when you go for the team goals, and that’s winning ballgames, so that’s first and foremost on my mind. That’s first and foremost for this team, because the most important thing is winning ballgames and heading into the playoffs with some momentum and some good energy heading into the playoffs.”

It’s clear Williams values the 4,000-yard passing mark, and he mentioned back in July that it was a personal goal. But Johnson and Williams both prioritize the team’s well-being over personal accolades.

“If it were to happen, that’d be great,” Johnson said. “But he would agree with me when I say that our No. 1 objective is to win this ballgame. Whatever that takes, that’s our goal. We’ll see where it’s at at the end of the year. That’s a tertiary role, if you will.”

Johnson also mentioned that 4,000 is just “an arbitrary number” and noted some NFL teams don’t have a 5,000-yard passer in their history. The Bears head coach is right — just nine teams have had a quarterback throw for 5,000 yards. 

But the Bears are the only team without a 4,000-yard passer. 

Back during OTAs in May, Johnson was asked for his opinion on the notion that “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” which was said by Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, in Seth Wickersham’s book, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.”

Johnson started his answer with three simple words and spoke with a smile. 

“I love it,” Johnson said. “I love it. I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That’s where great stories are written. So, we’re looking to write a new chapter here — 2025 Chicago Bears — and looking forward to the future.”

That Bears future is here, and the narrative has changed. Chicago has 11 wins and an NFC North championship. For the first time since 2018, it will host a playoff game at Soldier Field. 

Sunday’s game also can give Johnson another chapter to write, with Williams as the main character doing something no other Bears QB has. 

“I knew that coming here and like you said, that’s a goal of mine, is to be the top of them all,” Williams said. “I want to be the best quarterback not only for Chicago but in the league, and that starts with consistency, that starts with me preparing the right way. It’s important to me.

“I don’t get up to be mediocre. I don’t get up to not come to work and be at my best and go on the football field and do what I do. I want to keep growing. I want to keep growing for myself. I want to keep growing for my legacy. But I also want to keep growing for this team.”