Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - If Caleb Williams isn't the best Bears QB of all time, who is it?

Episode Date: January 28, 2026

Marshall Harris and Mark Grote discussed the best quarterbacks in Bears history. It isn't a long list, and current quarterback Caleb Williams may already be at the top of it.

Laila Rahimi, Marshall Harris, Mark Grody, midday's 10 a.m. to 2 on Chicago Sports Radio 670 the score. Fourth down in four, 14 of the Rams, shotgun snap, goes back four, four-man rush. He's chased, he's flushed, he's all the way back to the 40. He's backpedaling and throws a pass into the end zone. Chicago has caught a touchdown pass. Let Cole come in. Open in the corner. If you hadn't seen it, you would now.

believe it. 18 seconds left. Pandemonium at Soldier Field. That never goes out of style. Thanks to a friend of the program, Kevin Harlan right there. It's Rahimi Harris and Grotie on Chicago Sports Radio 670. The score asking you, are you ready to proclaim to go along with the idea that Caleb Williams is the greatest Chicago Bears quarterback ever? Are we heading into a dangerous territory even asking that question? 312-644-67-67 is the number. We will definitely take some of your calls on that. If I may, Marshall, I would like to present the opposing opinion.

The one, because I'm listening. That's what's going on with me. Of course you're listening. I'm listening, and I'm pushing back. And I'm challenging you on other quarterbacks that were not great, but would challenge, that would challenge Caleb Williams for greatest Chicago Bears quarterback ever. And right now, just to catch people up, I would say, let's deep dive Jim McMahon, which we kind of did already before the break.

And let's talk about Jay Cutler a little bit before we really jump to conclusions. Fair. Fair. It's fair to do that. You know, the reason why you are listening and you're open is because I've slowly over the course of less than a year, Mark, that we've been working together on this show, worked you out of your PTSD,

bears related, on many different things. And I think quarterback is one of them. And I think that's the reason why you and other Caleb, I'm not there yet people, would be reticent, hesitant to just say, yeah, he's the guy. I get that. But Caleb, with the comebacks,

with having to be the actual engine, with all these other teams you're talking about, they had a defense and a running game, and it was like the quarterback hopefully doesn't screw it up. That's been kind of the method of operation for the Chicago Bears. Now we have a guy who's only in year two, who's only had one year with a new head coach. And he's had how many offensive coordinators in that time?

How many guys have been called in plays since he became an NFL quarterback? Multiple, more than two. and I think the thing that what you need to see right now is when you turn on the freaking tape and you watch the number of throws that he's made and the armed talent that he has and the use of said armed talent to win not just games but big games and big spots

that's what separates Caleb Williams is because he has to be the guy these other guys that we're talking about didn't have to be the guy necessarily on the teams that they were on Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, with Cutler, who was here 2009 to 2016, interestingly enough, the year before he came to the Bears, he had 4,526 yards. What did he never do with the Chicago Bears? Throw for 4,000 yards. No, it's just funny, like, as I went back and, you know, thinking as much as I think I know about Bears' history and Bears' quarterbacks, you always learn.

something, or at least your memory is rescimulated as to things that are going on with these players. That did go on with these players. Hey, Grot, do you know what he immediately did when he became a Chicago Bear? Immediately? With loss to the Packers. Well, that too.

Guess what? Caleb already has more wins over the Packers than that guy. That's a point in your favor, pal. Justin Fields and Mitch Trubisky combined. I want to point that out. He's three and two. And on top of that, the first thing he did was said, I'm going to lead the league, with 26 interceptions.

And he said, in another season, I'll also lead the league with 18 interceptions. Counterpoint. Caleb Williams has never come close to leading the league in interceptions. Counterpoint. Jay Cutler got the Bears to the title game in the year 2010. So, and had, and did have, while he never did reach 4,000 yards, he had a couple of, I mean, like a 3,700 yard or 3,800.

He was always good. Well, I can't say he was always good at the end. Look, there were moments, and I'm not going to really do this serious deep dive on Jake Cutler. Well, maybe I should, maybe a little bit. And that is, look, Jake Cutler's problem with the Bears never lived up to the expectation, never lived up to the hype, I suppose it was. He did not ultimately win enough, but his bugaboo on the field was thinking he could make every single throw. And he did have an extraordinary arm.

And there were throws that he made that others couldn't make. But too many times he was the guy that said, oh, there's a lot. three guys draping that dude, watch this. And he got more times than not in key moments that felt like he got burned. Hey, Mark, thanks for making my point for me. Because Jay Culler thinks he can make every throw. Caleb Williams has shown you he can make every throw. Well, that's for sure.

Well, no, Jay Coutler could make every throw. But I'm saying that he did in dangerous situations. And Caleb has done that too, where he's tried to throw into coverage. And you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. And I know the quantity is not large of interception. for Caleb Williams, but there have been times you're like, how did you think you were going to get that in there? I think it's all situational. The context is important. And I think you're talking about big spots. And Caleb, when he throws an interception on a fourth down that's basically a punt, I'm not really upset with that.

Look at his last throw of the season. We don't even know definitively why it went wrong, but I would argue Caleb should have thrown the check down. That's just my personal opinion. And he's not getting indicted for it, though. No, I've killed him for it. I said, I think that's more on Caleb. than it is on DJ Moore. Really? And I think it's more on Ben Johnson than either one of those guys. Then you've been the voice that has not been,

because I mean, to me, it's like if you did like a poll, it's 85% DJ Moore. Let's put it this way, 85% not Caleb's fault. Nope, I didn't hear any outrage over Caleb. I think that's based on Caleb being the guy who put them in a position to even be. And it's justified. Yes.

Two things can be true. I think you're right. I think you're right in that case. Nah, I can make any throw. See? And he's been doing it all season long. The best thing that Tim Jenkins ever told us over a course of us having him on every Tuesday for a whole season, by the way, was Tim Jenkins explaining when he goes to look at like the highlight throws that he wants to,

he'll go through some guys and it'll be a whole season, maybe like three throws. He says Caleb Williams does that, and it's a collection of throws multiples for each game of amazing throws. That to me tells you what it is and what it ain't. Well, and that is, like, if we're just separating from the argument or whatever this is that's happening right now from my side. He's just the best player to ever play the position for the Chicago Bears. My opinion on Caleb, like, was throughout the season, you know, there was some moments early in the season where I was like, I don't know. I'm not sure what's going on here with Caleb is going to get it back. Then the last five or six games of the season, he changed my mind, like in terms of the throws that he was making.

and to a point where, unfortunately, because it's not cool to be aligned with the Bears, it's just not. I am aligned with the Bears' opinions on Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and Ryan Polls specifically, as in, oh yeah, we got our quarterback. This guy does spectacular things, but there's a few more things, a few more levels that we have to go here before that guy is an autopilot. And I completely agree with you, and I just want to let everyone who's listening understand this. I'm just saying, get on the train now.

Don't get on the train when it's overcrowded four or five stops down the way. You're not going to allow them on the crowded train, man. Is there room for them? It's a train. Be down on the L, just be like one of the conductors that nicely says, don't worry, there's another train right behind that you can get on. Listen, Mark, I'm counting down the days to where you're like,

hey, Marshall, you're right. He is the quarterback for the next 10 years. And that day is coming sooner than you want to admit. Hey, I got what I wanted out of this season. I know the Bears have a quarterback. Let's take some of these calls before I don't take the calls. 3-1, 644, 67, 67. Bob's been waiting.

He's in Libertyville. What's going on? Bob, you're on Rahimi-Harrison Grotie on the score. Hey, guys. Hey, Mark. Can we stop with the boomer and unc takes of the 85 bears in comparison to today's modern NFL offensive? Let me ask you this.

How do you go about that when the quarterbacks were asked to do things differently back then? For sure, if Jim McMahon was asked to throw the ball 30 times a game, 25 to 30 times a game, maybe he would have the numbers of some of the elite quarterbacks now. So while I appreciate the boomer attack, I get it. No, I really do. And I'm not a boomer, but I understand where the call. I really do. But it was different.

So you also are not accounting for that. Like you could boom me all you want, but you're not. Mark, you're not accounting for today's defenses play at a speed way faster than those 85 defenses play. They were based off of intimidation, lack of rules that allowed for late hits and intimidation. Today is based on scheme and speed. How about how protected the quarterbacks are today? You can't touch a quarterback.

How about Jim McMahon? Jim McMahon getting demolished and hurt guys having it out. Gilbert Brown. Like, well, not Gilbert Brown. Who's my guess? Well, how many picks did he throw in the 80s, okay, with the lack of speed and scheme going on? So how would lack of intimidation and late hits help his stats if he was playing against slower defenses where guys were having cigarettes at halftime?

So you obviously didn't watch Jim McMahon. You're assuming Jim McMahon couldn't keep up with the speed of players today. I guess that's what you're doing, although even though you haven't ever seen the guy play, and I'm guessing you probably haven't even watched highlights. Is he gone? Okay. Like, honestly, it doesn't make me mad when people, like, because, I get tired of it having to reference the 80s bears.

And it was a spectacular time, too, all the same. I'll never take that away from my enjoyment of it. But I hate to have to reference that. But if you don't put Jim McMahon in – and by the way, I haven't even said that Jim McMahon was better. I'm just saying that you have to put Jim McMahon and Jay Cutler into – it's just not as easy of a slam dunk for me to just say that Caleb is the great of all time. And you're being

ignorant, quite frankly, if you don't put, if you don't discuss Jim McMahon, even though that caller didn't want to have anything to do with it. No, no. I understand what you're doing, because you're saying, as soon as I say Caleb Williams is the best to ever play the position for the Chicago Bears, the first thing you have to do is

like, well, if it's not Caleb, then who is it? That's the best you came up with. And it's a huge statement, too. And I get it. I don't think it's that big of a statement. Because the field isn't good, but it's still a huge statement. Like, just the fact that can make it is huge. Like it's a revelation that we're having this conversation about a present quarterback. So it is big. It is something that takes processing and it is something that requires

Jim McMahon and quarterbacks from way back when in Boomer time and the prehistoric times unfortunately have to be part of the conversation. What up, Sid. No, I'm not, notice I've left Sid behind. Sid is gone now. You're with me. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you have to mentioned him just to give the qualifications and to the process of elimination as well. I think the process of elimination is going to be over very quickly when we get back to these clone calls next time. Well, we're going to do that. And, and, oh, there is somebody else who has a distinct opinion about...

I'll address that as well. The other side. He happens to be my partner on the Take the North podcast. He's Dan Weeder. I brought this topic up to him at the end of the episode that we recorded yesterday. That's out right now if you want to check it out, Take the North. Take the North. He was way more scared of the topic than I might be coming across to our audience right now.

I've coached you out of it. I don't spend enough time with Dan to coax him out of that PTSD. Well, and actually, I do believe Dan is filling in for Lawrence Holmes today. Oh, we're going to. Oh, transition is going to be great. Double weedsie is happening today. So we will get Weeter's opinion. We'll get more of your phone calls in here at 312, 644, 67.

It is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on the score. We got a boomer. Thank you.