Craig Krenzel

Caleb Williams, the Bears' shiny new starter, towers over Craig Krenzel like a Ferrari next to a rusted Pinto—718 yards and 3 TDs in five spot starts for Krenzel in '04, versus Caleb's arm talent and mobility built for this pass-happy era. Krenzel was a game-manager in Chicago's run-first setup; Williams is the full franchise reset button nobody saw coming after that brief Buckeye-to-Bears flash.

Nah, Craig Krenzel's not in Canton—no bust waiting for the old Ohio State champ who threw 718 yards and 3 TDs over five NFL starts. His Bears stint was a gritty cameo amid injuries, not Hall stuff, though that '02 Fiesta Bowl magic lingers like a hangover from a national title party. Legends need longer resumes.

In 2026, Krenzel's calling Buckeyes games on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, dishing his "Mike Tomczak Story" bit that cracks up the locals. He's also principal at Arthur Krenzel Lett Insurance Group, spokesman for JD Equipment with those folksy commercials, and cheering his son Brayden, Tennessee's pitching ace. Football brain, business hustle—classic post-gridiron pivot.

Krenzel's pro-style arm and Ohio State smarts might carve a backup niche in today's NFL, where rules juice passing like a tailwind—think less Rex Grossman scrambles, more quick reads in spread offenses. His 9.82 rating screams '04 run-heavy Bears, but modern protections could've padded those 718 yards into something serviceable, not starter status.

Krenzel's 9.82 passer rating over those five Bears starts looks pedestrian next to Jim McMahon's gritty 45.04 across 1982-88, when McMahon torched defenses for '85 Super Bowl glory amid Lovie's conservative schemes. Krenzel managed wins like a relief pitcher; McMahon was the flamethrower who partied through pain—two eras, same Soldier Field scars.