All-Time Bears QBs Ranked: McMahon #1, Wade #2

Kyle Orton

Retired 10 Years In The NFL
🏆 PFWA All-Rookie Team (2005)
Kyle's
HAIR
19.1
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Kyle Orton or the Bears?

Kyle Orton Legacy

HEYTC AI
Kyle Orton was the scrappy Purdue gunslinger who owned four straight bowl games, shrugging off a dislocated thumb, sprained toe, and cracked rib to gut out the Capital One Bowl like a Boilermaker warrior. A fourth-round steal by the Bears in '05, he sparked their 10-win rookie campaign before bouncing to Denver, where he ripped off a 6-0 heater capped by a 98-yard OT-forcing drive against the Pats. The journeyman QB—Broncos, Chiefs (snapping the Pack's streak), Cowboys, Bills—always delivered in the clutch, from comebacks to gritty upsets, proving you don't need stardom to etch a tenacious legacy across five franchises.

Kyle Orton Rating Breakdown

Season
Good
Fantasy
Average
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
3 years with the Bears

Kyle Orton Career Stats via Wikipedia

18,037 Pass Yards
101 Touchdowns
69 INTs
59.5% Comp %
19.1 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Kyle Orton

How does Caleb Williams compare to Kyle Orton?

Caleb Williams operates in a completely different stratosphere—he's a generational talent with MVP-caliber arm talent and mobility that Orton never possessed. Where Orton threw 101 TDs over 12 seasons with a 71.1 rating in Chicago, Williams is built to dominate the modern pass-happy NFL. Orton was a competent game-manager; Williams is a franchise cornerstone.

Is Kyle Orton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

No, Kyle Orton never made Canton and won't—his 18,037 career yards and 101 TDs don't crack the Hall's threshold for QB consideration. He was a solid, durable backup-turned-starter who did his job without distinction. There's no Hall case here, and Orton himself would probably tell you that.

What is Kyle Orton doing now in 2026?

The search results don't reveal Orton's current 2026 activities, so I can't tell you what he's doing now—whether that's broadcasting, business ventures, or staying out of the spotlight entirely. His playing days ended in 2014, but his post-football path isn't documented in available sources.

How would Kyle Orton perform in today's NFL?

Orton's 71.1 rating with the Bears would likely improve under today's rules—softer coverage, more wide-open spacing, and penalty-happy officiating favor rhythm passers. That said, his arm talent was never elite, and he'd still be a game-manager type. He'd probably be a competent backup in 2026, maybe a low-end starter on a defense-first team.

How does Kyle Orton compare to Jim McMahon?

McMahon crushes Orton in the legacy department—his 45.04 rating and Super Bowl XX championship define Bears quarterback history. Orton was the forgettable interim guy who kept the seat warm; McMahon was the swashbuckling gunslinger who won it all. Not even close.