The 2025-26 Chicago Bears, time and time again, have found a way to get back in games.
After beating the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round thanks to a fourth-quarter comeback last week, Caleb Williams and the Bears were on their heels once again in Sunday’s divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford led a touchdown drive to give his squad a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead, and Chicago got one last opportunity to get back in it.
Naturally, in a magical season for Williams full of comebacks, he engineered one of the NFL’s highlights of the year by finding Cole Kmet for a game-tying touchdown on the Bears’ final shot, a fourth-down from the 14-yard line.
Chicago went on to fall in overtime, 20-17, but Williams’ wild throw will undoubtedly remain the lasting image of the team’s first season under Ben Johnson.
Here’s how Williams’ spectacular throw forced overtime against the Rams.
MORE BEARS-RAMS NEWS:
Caleb Williams TD to Cole Kmet forces overtime vs. Rams
After Kyren Williams scored a touchdown around the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the Rams had an opportunity to close out a win with some defensive stops. Chicago turned the ball over on downs on its first shot to tie the game. But after a Rams punt, the Bears got one last opportunity to save their season.
Williams got his team into Los Angeles territory, but with time ticking away and the Bears needing a touchdown, it appeared Chicago would need a miracle. An incompletion on 3rd & 4 set up a fourth down that would decide the game.
Of course, Williams came through, not just with a first down — but with a touchdown to Kmet that would force overtime. It came after being heavily pressured by the Rams’ front, scrambling backward and running for his life, and hauling up a pass into the corner of the end zone that somehow landed in his tight end’s hands.
“They’ve done it again!” NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said of the Bears.
NO WAY. CALEB WILLIAMS HEAVES IT ON 4TH DOWN.
LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/JJymsDhen2
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
Here’s another angle, showing how Williams was mere seconds away from taking a game-ending sack before his miraculous throw.
YOU CAN’T KILL THESE CHICAGO BEARS.
LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/4lxGJ6iP3m
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Williams’ game-tying touchdown pass traveled 51.2 yards in the air, which is the longest completed pass by air distance in the red zone since 2016. It had a completion probability of 17.8%.
Kmet broke free from his defender in the end zone to haul in the massive Bears touchdown.
Still stunned.
LARvsCHI on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/7P3N7RR6Nl
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
Stacey Dales might have had the best seat in the house for the play:
Holy pic.twitter.com/IBPnuGlYFu
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) January 19, 2026
Postgame, Ben Johnson said that Williams is the kind of player who makes plays that can’t be coached.
“There’s some things that you just can’t coach. He’s got that about him. He’s got a knack, he’s clutch. He does so many good things,” Johnson said. “I know he’s feeling it because we didn’t win, had some turnovers mixed in there, he’s feeling it. He’s one of those guys I’m talking about that will remember this feeling.”
“There’s some thing that you just can’t coach. … He’s clutch. He does so many good things.”
Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams this season pic.twitter.com/l4GO7SwpBu
— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2026
Kmet, meanwhile, said catching the touchdown pass felt like “a pop fly in center field.”
“It just felt like a pop fly in center field.”
Cole Kmet on game-tying TD from Caleb Williams: pic.twitter.com/O2q6ZmqYNM
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) January 19, 2026
Asked what he saw on that game-tying touchdown play, Williams said postgame that he saw Kmet one-on-one almost by himself.
“I just wanted to give him my best ball, and give him a shot, understanding it’s fourth down [with] the game on the line,” Williams said.
Caleb Williams on what he saw to throw the game-tying TD pass to Cole Kmet: pic.twitter.com/9Pt18XAUrO
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 19, 2026
Caleb Williams TD pass reactions
Arguably the biggest highlight play of Williams’ NFL career so far got plenty of buzz from fans, celebrities and other players across the league.
Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes left it to one word: “Awesome.”
🤣🤣🤣 awesome!
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 19, 2026
Here are more reactions from fans, media members and more:
Caleb Williams are you kidding me??? That was one of the most unbelievable plays I have ever seen. Cole Kmet way to be ready!
— Nick Foles (@NickFoles) January 19, 2026
51.2 yards in the air, per @NextGenStats.
I’m flabbergasted. pic.twitter.com/lvtPrWr2q4
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) January 19, 2026
There are three people on the planet who have what it takes mentally and physically to make this play
MahomesAllenWilliamspic.twitter.com/ooG7zp1av9
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 19, 2026
Caleb Williams is literally not human. That was the best football play I’ve ever seenpic.twitter.com/my0JIaMpPO
— Burch (@braden_burcham_) January 19, 2026
4th and 4 in the red zone I’d imagine QBs are taught the #1 and #2 and #3 things to NOT do are:1. Run backwards2. Throw off your back foot3. Throw while you fall down.
Caleb Williams just did all three and scored a Touchdown.
— Gino Fornaro (@ginoliciousboss) January 19, 2026
