Caleb Williams’ $39.5 Million Contract (Getty Images)
Mahomes sits on top with a reworked deal of eight years and $504.75 million, the first contract in NFL history to pass half a billion. He moved past Dak Prescott, who makes $60 million a year. The Bears won the division and beat Green Bay 31-27 in the wild-card round on Jan. 10. The Bears’ 28 drops cost him at least 404 yards and kept him short of 4,000 passing yards. The question for Chicago is less whether Williams gets paid and more whether the final number lands closer to $50 million or $60 million.
One missed month probably won’t change the outcome. Last season gave Chicago plenty to believe in. Still, evaluators keep pointing to inconsistency and holding the ball too long. In fairness, he didn’t get much help. The league rewards potential, and even Purdy, with no trophies of his own, landed a top-ten deal.
His six-year, $330 million extension includes a record $250 million in guarantees. Williams has missed three games with a hamstring strain suffered in Week 2 against Minnesota. Williams was a full participant in practice all week and was listed as questionable for Week 6 against Atlanta.
Coach Ben Johnson said, “He’s itching to get back as soon as he can. Allen’s number deserves a second look. For a young quarterback, guaranteed money is the real prize. The yearly average gets the headline, but the guarantee tells you what a team is truly willing to risk. That could matter in a practical way. A quarterback who isn’t chasing the last dollar can leave the team more cap room for receivers, linemen and defense. It also removes a layer of posturing from the talks. This season has been bumpier.
In 2024 he said, “I have lawyers and attorneys to handle things like that. Williams also brings an odd setup to the table. He has no certified agent, and he has been open about handling things through lawyers. The Sun-Times reports that he has implied his priority is making sure the contract doesn’t stop the Bears from building a championship roster.