CHICAGO — Facing fourth and 4 with the season on the line and just 27 seconds remaining, Caleb Williams delivered a play that Next Gen Stats suggests shouldn’t have been possible. Retreating 15 yards to avoid a relentless Los Angeles pass rush, Williams turned his back to the field before whipping a cross-body heave from the 40-yard line that landed perfectly in tight end Cole Kmet’s hands for a game-tying touchdown. Despite the Bears eventually falling 20-17 in overtime, the throw has left the NFL world and his own head coach in a state of disbelief.
The statistical profile of the touchdown is unprecedented in the tracking era. While officially recorded as a 14-yard scoring pass, the ball traveled a staggering 51.2 yards in the air—the longest air distance for a red-zone completion since Next Gen Stats began tracking in 2016. Williams released the ball from 26.5 yards behind the line of scrimmage, the deepest release point for a completed pass in a decade. The play carried a microscopic 17.8% completion probability.
“That touchdown today, that’s just him. It is phenomenal. Truly, my kids were at this game, and they’ll be able to tell people they saw that play.” — Case Keenum, Bears Quarterback/Mentor
“It was the most special throw that I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen him do that so many times this year, but that was insane. It left us speechless.” — Kevin Byard, Bears Safety
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who described the throw as simply “ridiculous,” highlighted the play as proof of Williams’ innate “clutch” gene. Under Johnson’s leadership, the Bears transformed from division bottom-dwellers to NFC North champions, recording an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comeback wins in a single season. While the loss to Matthew Stafford’s Rams (14-5) ends their run, the foundation in Chicago appears cemented.
The Bears finish the 2025 campaign with a 12-7 record and their first Divisional Round appearance in years. Williams finished the game with 257 passing yards and two touchdowns, though his three interceptions—including the decisive one in overtime to Kam Curl—will be the focus of his offseason film study. The rookie-to-sophomore jump for Williams has already redefined the Bears’ offensive ceiling, leaving the Windy City with its most legitimate franchise quarterback hope in generations.
