Caleb Williams seemed to rub certain people the wrong way. They felt that his massive media profile and business-like approach to his football career at such a young age must make him a terrible leader. That is why rumors flew in all directions that teammates didn’t like him. He was never a great presence in the locker room. USC merely tolerated him for his incredible talent. As time went on, reports began surfacing that not only was this not true, but Williams was far more beloved at USC than anybody realized. His teammates saw him as one of their own, and his personality was a welcome presence everywhere he went.
GM Ryan Poles said one of the decisive points of the pre-draft evaluation came when the Bears invited the quarterback and some of his teammates to a dinner in Chicago. He noticed right away how they interacted with Williams, the respect and love he garnered. This wasn’t a Bo Callahan situation. Never was that clearer than during the NFL draft. USC cameras caught several players watching the event on a big screen. When the announcement came down that Williams went #1, they erupted in cheers.
Caleb Williams might be ambitious, but he’s not selfish.
The kid is a true football player at heart. He loves the game. He’s had dreams of achieving great success since he was 10 years old. You don’t do that if you don’t love football. Nobody ever said it was a crime to dream big. Bears players also had dinner with him before the draft. They came away impressed with his down-to-earth mentality and overall intelligence. There were no red flags to speak of. Yes, he’s young. It will take time for him to assume the role of franchise leader, but there is nothing to suggest he will put himself above the Bears.
What is most encouraging about all of this is how quickly Caleb Williams has embraced Chicago. He’s shopping at Target in his street clothes, attending a Cubs game, and trying to get the “bear claw” gesture over as a thing. He might be a bit over the top on some things, but nobody can deny his efforts to get fans excited about what is coming. Williams is a confident young man. That is what the Bears need. When the quarterback has the swagger, it bleeds into everybody else.
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