Quarterback play hasn’t been the Chicago Bears’ biggest strength, but with Caleb Williams entering his second NFL season in 2025 and Ben Johnson now at the helm, the arrow is up. Williams started all 17 games as a rookie in 2024 and remains Chicago’s QB1 in 2025, giving Bears fans real hope that the long search for a franchise passer is over.
Bears Starting Quarterbacks Timeline (2000-2025)
To achieve success, NFL teams rely on the stability of their quarterbacks. However, despite using several high draft picks, the Chicago Bears have struggled to find such stability since the turn of the millennium. Below is a list of the 2000-2024 Chicago Bears quarterbacks by year:
- 2000: Cade McNown, Shane Matthews, and Jim Miller.
- 2001: Jim Miller and Shane Matthews.
- 2002: Jim Miller, Chris Chandler, and Henry Burris.
- 2003: Kordell Stewart, Chris Chandler, and Rex Grossman.
- 2004: Craig Krenzel, Chad Hutchinson, Jonathan Quinn, and Rex Grossman.
- 2005: Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman.
- 2006: Rex Grossman.
- 2007: Rex Grossman, Brian Griese, and Kyle Orton.
- 2008: Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman.
- 2009: Jay Cutler.
- 2010: Jay Cutler and Todd Collins.
- 2011: Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, and Josh McCown.
- 2012: Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell.
- 2013: Jay Cutler and Josh McCown.
- 2014: Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen.
- 2015: Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen.
- 2016: Matt Barkley, Jay Cutler, and Brian Hoyer.
- 2017: Mitchell Trubisky and Mike Glennon.
- 2018: Mitchell Trubisky and Chase Daniel.
- 2019: Mitchell Trubisky and Chase Daniel.
- 2020: Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles.
- 2021: Justin Fields, Andy Dalton, and Nick Foles.
- 2022: Justin Fields, Trevor Siemian, and Nathan Peterman.
- 2023: Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent.
- 2024: Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.
- 2025: Caleb Williams (first season under head coach Ben Johnson).
How Many Starting Quarterbacks Have the Bears Had Since 2000?
Thirty different quarterbacks have started at least one regular-season game for the Bears since 2000. In 2025, Caleb Williams continues as the starter, with Tyson Bagent and veteran Case Keenum providing depth; no new names have been added to the starters list this season, so the total holds at 30.
- Jay Cutler (2009-2016): 102 starts.
- Mitchell Trubisky (2017-2020): 50 starts.
- Justin Fields (2021-2023): 38 starts.
- Kyle Orton (2005, 2007, and 2008): 33 starts.
- Rex Grossman (2003-2008): 31 starts.
- Jim Miller (2000-2002): 23 starts.
Best Chicago Bears Quarterbacks of All Time
Over the years, several Chicago Bears quarterbacks have contributed significantly to the success of the franchise, so let’s take a look at the best Bears quarterbacks ever.
5. Ed Brown
Brown was the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1954 to 1961. Although his passing volume wasn’t as impressive as some others on this list of Chicago Bears quarterbacks, he was a high-quality player and two-time Pro Bowler. In 1956, Brown led the Bears to an NFL Championship game, and that year, he led the NFL in completion percentage (57.1%), touchdown percentage (6.5%), yards per attempt (9.9), and passer rating (83.1).
4. Bill Wade
From 1961 to 1966, Bill Wade threw 68 touchdowns — the third most in Chicago Bears history — despite being 10th in the number of games played as a quarterback. He had the highest passer rating in the NFL in 1961, and the next year, he made the most passing attempts, game-winning drives, and fourth-quarter comebacks. Wade led the Bears to an NFL Championship in 1963 and was named a Pro Bowler that same year.
3. Jim McMahon
Some Chicago football fans regard Jim McMahon as the best quarterback in Bears history. The incredibly gifted quarterback played for the Bears from 1982 to 1988, but he struggled with injuries for a large part of his career. Chicago won all 14 games that McMahon started in 1985, including their post-season matchups. In 1986, he was named a Pro Bowler after leading the Bears to their only Super Bowl win. McMahon ranks fourth in franchise history for passing yards and touchdowns.
2. Jay Cutler
As the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 2009 to 2016, Jay Cutler holds the most franchise passing records. In 102 games with the Bears, he passed for 23,443 yards and 154 touchdowns. Cutler managed a respectable 51-51 record as a starter, even though he had a lack of great offensive talent supporting him. He’s definitely earned a high position on this list of Chicago Bears’ best quarterbacks.
1. Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman’s impact is undeniable. In 1943, he won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award — one of only two Chicago players to do so. A four-time NFL champion and a six-time All-Pro, he topped the league three times each for passer rating, passing yards, and passing touchdown. Luckman is the most prolific Bears quarterback of all time by a mile.
Who Is the Most Famous Chicago Bears Quarterback?
Choosing the most famous Chicago Bears quarterback is difficult. While Sid Luckman is widely regarded as the Bears’ best quarterback ever, current football fans may be less familiar with him than with Jim McMahon or Caleb Williams. McMahon gained nationwide fame after winning the Super Bowl in 1985, while Caleb Williams enjoys immense popularity thanks to social media.
Watch Bears Games at Pequod’s Pizza
If you’re a football fan, we invite you and your friends to spend game day at Pequod’s Pizza. With a vibrant atmosphere, large flatscreen TVs, and the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago, it’s the perfect place to watch the Bears in action. Use our table request tool to make a reservation now.
bears10 by Paul Eisenberg is licensed with ATTRIBUTION 2.0 GENERIC (CC BY 2.0)