LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Caleb Williams understands he needs to be a quick study. For that, the prized rookie will lean on his experience.
The Chicago Bears host the Tennessee Titans in their season-opener on Sunday and the spotlight that's been shining on the quarterback drafted with the No. 1 overall pick figures to be that much brighter from this point.
“The ability to learn fast, I think that has grown over time,” Williams said Wednesday. “Obviously being in a bunch of different games, seeing a bunch of different films and things like that, I think that has helped. ... In high school I was a little bit more under center, I had a few more play-actions from under center and things like that. In college, I was little bit more spread and throwing the ball around a lot more and seeing a bunch of different concepts of space and all these different things. So I’ve gotten a bunch of different types of playing throughout my years, and I think that has helped me tremendously to be able to learn this offense.”
Now, it's time to see how it all comes together.
The Bears have been waiting for this moment ever since they traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. That cleared the way for them to draft Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California.
No rookie quarterback has arrived in Chicago with this much anticipation. The Bears hadn't drafted a player with the No. 1 overall pick since 1947, when George Halas went with Oklahoma A&M halfback Bob Fenimore despite a knee injury that cut short his senior season. The former All-American lasted just one year in the NFL. Chicago’s only other No. 1 pick was Michigan halfback Tom Harmon in 1941, another Heisman Trophy winner.
In recent years, under former general manager Ryan Pace, Chicago drafted Mitchell Trubisky and Fields with high picks. Both were viewed more as works in progress rather than ready-made players, and neither developed the way the Bears hoped.
With Williams, it's different. Or, at least, it appears that way.
Williams has impressed the Bears from Day 1 not only with his arm and ability to throw on the run, but with his approach in general and beaming demeanor. He has said and done all the right things, to the point that his teammates chose him as one of eight captains.
“I’m extremely grateful,” Williams said. “I can’t really think of how many rookies are captains, especially with a team so talented like this. With a lot of, I guess you can say vet guys. We’re a pretty young team but we obviously have a good amount of vets on this team, so to be named a captain by my peers and colleagues, my teammates and my friends and brothers I’m extremely grateful, extremely happy.”
Williams threw for 93 touchdowns with 14 interceptions over three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. He put up huge numbers the past two years for the Trojans, with 72 TD passes and 10 INTs.
Williams understands his passing windows won't stay open as long in the NFL. The Bears, meanwhile, are banking on a long window of contention with him as their quarterback.
Chicago is a combined 10-24 in two seasons under general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus. But after winning seven games last season, the Bears have their sights higher.
Williams has no shortage of targets with six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen and No. 9 pick Rome Odunze joining the returning DJ Moore at wide receiver. The Bears also have two pass-catching tight ends in Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett.
“I wouldn’t rather be with another guy right now than Caleb,” said Allen, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. "He’s gotten better ever since we started. The confidence is through the roof.”
He said Williams is ahead of where Justin Herbert — who threw for more than 4,300 yards as a rookie with the Chargers in 2020 — was coming out of college. The Bears, meanwhile, are the only team without a 4,000-yard passer. That's something Williams will try to change.
The prized QB will take the first step on Sunday, with all eyes on him.
“Well, when feet touch the grass it’s going to be business as usual,” Williams said. “But I normally like to, when I run out the stadium, kind of do a little spin in the tunnel, when I’m coming out the tunnel, just kind of see the stadium, take it all in and feel the the energy, the vibe, and get going from there. Once I do my spin and get down to the sideline, it’s go time.”
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