In the worst-kept secret in the history of the world, Chicago bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced Friday that No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams will be the Bears’ starting quarterback in week one of the 2024 season (Bears coach Matt Eberflus says No. 1 pick Caleb Williams will open season as No. 1 QB).
He didn’t say it, but rumors are that the grass is green and the sky is blue. SHHHHHH.
“You can really tell he’s comfortable in his own skin and he is who he is,” Eberflus said of Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy-winner and former Southern Cal signal-caller. “His personality starts. His light comes out from the inside. You can certainly feel that energy. He’s a one-plus-one-equals-three guy. He’s an enhancer. He’s a guy that brings out the best in people. You can certainly feel that in him within five minutes of meeting him.”
Williams will lean on offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and his own personal quarterback coach, Will Hewlett, to help him get ready. And although it’s May 10, two shakes and the first week of September will be here.
Chicago traded away former first-round pick Justin Fields to Pittsburgh to clear the way for Williams, who had 72 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions – and the one Heisman Trophy, of course – in two years with USC.
The Bears, though, have been waiting a lifetime for a player like Williams.
It’s well-documented that Chicago has had few big-time players at the quarterback position. They’ve had a personality – Super Bowl XX-winning QB Jim McMahon – but the defense and all-time great running back Walter Payton were the real stars of that team.
They’ve had a big arm: Jay Cutler. But Cutler’s relaxed 24-7 attitude never seemed to fit in with the fan base that wanted so much more from him.
And no quarterback has ever put up big numbers while playing here.
Chicago has won only one Super Bowl in history (the one with McMahon, Payton and the “Super Bowl Shuffle” Bears to culminate the 1985 season back in January, 1986), and has only been to the playoffs three times since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2006. They went 7-10 a year ago.
