Coby Bryant had plenty of options when free agency opened earlier this month. Safeties like him always have a healthy market, especially coming off a Super Bowl championship. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize the Chicago Bears were the team he wanted to join. A big part of why was the intense interest they showed from the beginning, even calling him first thing in the morning. It didn’t hurt that they made a strong contract offer as well. There was the Caleb Williams factor.
Bryant admitted to Kay Adams on Up & Adams that the Bears quarterback was a big reason why he came to Chicago. He feels Williams is just scratching the surface of what he can do after his terrific 2025 season. Bryant wants to be part of what’s coming.
This is confirmation of what many felt was possible. If Williams ascended last season to showcase his obvious talent, the Bears would become a hot destination for high-end free agents, eager for the chance to play with him. Bryant’s words are the culmination of everything Chicago has been trying to build over the past two years.
Caleb Williams is embracing his role.
The fact that he reached out to Bryant tells you everything you need to know. It is one thing to welcome a player to a team when they’re signed. It is another to openly encourage them to join, believing they can be a key difference in a potential championship push. Williams hasn’t been shy about indicating his intense interest in everything the Bears do. His presence on social media means he’s well-informed on everything. He knows which players fans want and why those players could make the difference.
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He also understands how much his star has elevated after last season. Williams threw for 3,941 yards and 27 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. It was one of the best seasons in Bears history. He then followed it up with two of the greatest passes in NFL playoff history against the Packers and Rams. Williams is must-see TV and is already becoming one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league. He has the sleeping giant of Chicago stirring like never before. How can you not love the idea of joining in as a free agent?
Many great quarterbacks have made teams attractive destinations.
Tom Brady is a classic example. Top free agents frequently joined the New England Patriots for below top-of-the-market money just for the chance to compete for a Super Bowl thanks to his presence. You had Darrelle Revis do it in 2014. Stephon Gilmore did it in 2017. In 2020, after leaving Tampa Bay, he lured Leonard Fournette and Antonio Brown to the Buccaneers. You’ve been seeing the same thing happen in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes. Big names like Tyrann Mathieu, Joe Thuney, Justin Reid, and Kenneth Walker have all joined the Chiefs due in large part to his presence.
Not once since free agency was instituted in 1994 has a Bears quarterback been good enough to be considered a lure for big-name free agents. Jay Cutler was probably the closest during his run with the team, but his murky reputation as a leader and inconsistent play ruined that. Mitch Trubisky? Justin Fields? They had fun moments, but nobody ever took them seriously. Caleb Williams is the first to force people to take notice. He isn’t going away.
There is a common saying in the NFL. Players know. If guys are signing in Chicago because they want to team with Williams, that signals the Bears finally got one.
