- TICKETS. Get the best tickets for NFL games on Tickets MARCA
- NFL. Mike Tomlin's future in question as Steelers face Ravens on SNF
- NFL. Jason Kelce confirms the team that will win the Super Bowl: "It's the team I trust the most"
January does not forgive mistakes, and as the NFL regular season approaches its conclusion, the debate surrounding quarterbacks stops being about aesthetics and becomes critical. At this stage, a single decision can turn into a direct path to the Super Bowl or an early elimination, even for teams that arrive with elite numbers.
That is why the opinions of those who have survived the harshest months of the calendar tend to carry greater weight. One such voice belongs to Rob Gronkowski, who was asked during a Fox NFL studio discussion which quarterback without a Super Bowl ring deserves to win one this postseason.
While experience remains a key factor in making the right decisions on offense, the reality is that even having a talented quarterback does not guarantee success in January.
Gronkowski's favorite quarterback for the playoffs
Rob Gronkowski, a former New England Patriots star, understands that replacing Tom Brady has not been an easy task for the franchise. This season, however, Drake Maye has moved past his rookie growing pains and established himself as the leader of the offense, earning praise from multiple corners of the league.
Still, Gronkowski did not choose a quarterback connected to his own past. Instead, the former tight end surprised many by pointing to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who, much like Maye, has shown a significant leap in his second NFL season.
"Caleb Williams," Gronkowski said when asked which quarterback deserves to win a Super Bowl.
"What a turnaround it has been in Chicago with head coach Ben Johnson. [He's] just making crazy, insane throws and completing them as well.
Gronkowski's opinion carries substantial weight. He won four Super Bowls, played in the biggest games imaginable, and knows firsthand how quarterbacks respond when pressure is at its peak. His endorsement was not rooted in popularity, but in the way Williams has taken control of the game.
Williams was selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and his rookie season was a blend of promise and adversity. He threw for more than 3,500 yards, recorded 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, and was sacked 68 times.
In his second season, the numbers clearly reflect his growth. Williams has surpassed 3,700 passing yards, thrown 25 touchdowns, matched his six interceptions, and reduced his sacks to just 23, highlighting a much-improved ability to read opposing defenses. The transformation has been so evident that even historic figures around the league have begun to label him as a quarterback built for January.
Other former players offered different perspectives. Charles Woodson backed Josh Allen, while Julian Edelman sided with Trevor Lawrence.
Chicago enters Week 18 with an 11-5 record, preparing to host Detroit with the NFC's No. 2 seed at stake, and for Williams, it represents another crucial step toward the postseason.