When it became clear the Chicago Bears were going to clinch the #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, everybody knew that put them on a collision course with Caleb Williams. While other quarterbacks had outside shots at taking the spot, the former Heisman winner was the heavy favorite. That hasn’t changed. What did change was the quarterback’s perception of the Bears. For the first couple of months, there were whispers that Williams and his camp had reservations about coming to Chicago. Their ugly quarterback history had plenty to do with it.
Plus there was the fact his hometown team, the Washington Commanders, held the #2 pick. Some wondered if Williams might try to pull an Eli Manning/John Elway and threaten to hold out if the Bears picked him. Though they never said it publicly, the smoke was there. Then everything seemed to vanish. At some point in March, the narrative shifted to Williams being excited about joining the team. Maybe GM Ryan Poles and the organization made a good first impression. Or maybe that original preferred landing spot stopped looking so great.
Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed some rather dubious things happening behind the scenes in Washington and their handling of the quarterbacks on the Pat McAfee Show.
It’s fair to wonder if Caleb Williams caught wind of this.
If he felt things might not be handled professionally in Washington, it would help explain why he embraced the Bears. They gave him their undivided attention throughout the process. It never seemed like they were waffling back and forth. Poles wanted to make the right impression on the player. He seems to have succeeded. Williams sounds excited about what the Bears are building. He’ll have two top-tier receivers in D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen, a solid tight end in Cole Kmet, and a stable offensive line with four returning starters.
They can even add to things further with their other pick in the 1st round. Either way, Caleb Williams is set up for success more than any quarterback the Bears have drafted before. He has weapons, protection, and a defense he should be able to lean on. It might be too soon to expect a playoff run from him, but rest assured of one thing. Williams fully expects that outcome himself. His only business in the NFL is chasing Tom Brady. He wants to be the greatest. Chicago will be the ones to help him get there.
One thing that might have also swayed him was how the court of popular opinion doesn’t let go of past narratives that have been corrected or are being corrected. The court of popular opinion convicts people unjustifiably often enough to make him wonder, “Is Chicago really that bad?” He experienced this himself. He’s made mistakes and he knows he’s better than people give him credit for. Maybe the efforts of the Bears front office proved the same to him. People are wrong about me, maybe they’re wrong about the Bears too. So, onward and upward, I’ll make my name in… Read more »
Everyone now seems to agree that the rumors Williams did not want to come to Chicago were true at one point. Which means if you wanted him here, you need to give Poles credit for directing the teams resources towards changing that mindset.
Remember that.
@Dr. Melhus is right
Every exceptional QB I ever played with, would want to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft — above all else.
The mindset is: WIN EVERYTHING!
[NFL #1, is among the everything.]
This type of competitor believes he will win in every situation. They look for challenges — .not excuses.
He really could care less who his teammates are — because he believes he would lead either team that appears at Soldier Field, to victory, on any given Sunday.
There are no exceptions.
I personally think part of his acceptance of the situation was getting the old QB out of the building.
Caleb knows the opportunity in Chicago is much better than in Washington. Right now, with how the team is set up, with endorsement deals, with legacy, etc. All he needs to do is his part and the rest will take care of itself in becoming an icon. Should be an easy decision really.