Bears fans, standing and waving signs in the front row behind Chicago’s sideline, were asking Caleb Williams to sign their mini-helmets before the Hall of Fame game. “Please, Caleb. Please.”
Fans in navy, orange, and white No. 18 jerseys filled the stands and the Hall of Fame village as they toured the museum and looked at the bronze busts of Bears legends like Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, and Mike Singletary.
Devin Hester and Steve McMichael will be added to this prestigious list on Saturday.
Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC and the first pick in the NFL draft, has big dreams. He hopes to win eight Super Bowls, one more than Tom Brady.
“I want to play at one place for 20 years and chase one guy, No. 12,” Williams said on “The Pivot” podcast.
For now, Bears fans would be thrilled just with a playoff win, as they haven’t had one since the 2010 season. Aaron Rodgers’ Packers have mostly controlled the NFC North division in the past decade, and the Bears have had only one winning season in the last 11 years.
Williams’ arrival in Chicago has brought a lot of excitement. Everyone is hoping he will become the franchise quarterback the Bears have been searching for.
Only Jim McMahon has led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory, with Payton leading the offense and one of the greatest defenses in league history.
Quarterbacks like Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky, Jay Cutler, Rex Grossman, and Jim Harbaugh have not been able to win a Super Bowl for Chicago.
Williams has the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the NFL, and the Bears’ front office, led by general manager Ryan Poles, has given him a strong supporting cast.
The Bears drafted wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick and brought in six-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen, who will join top target D.J. Moore. They also signed running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett in free agency.
Williams has some talented teammates around him. Now, he needs time to get used to the speed and style of the NFL.
Williams and the starting players didn’t play in Chicago’s weather-shortened 21-17 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night.
Despite not playing, he gained useful experience from the sidelines.
“He went through the pre-game and then right before the game, we talked to him about what he needs to know as the quarterback based on the information we give him, like field positions, what we’re doing, and when we’re going for stuff,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said.
“It was his first time experiencing pre-game and getting all that information. He was there for halftime adjustments, so he saw that for the first time. It’s not like college where you get 30 minutes at halftime to change everything. The pace is fast.”
If the Bears needed any motivation that a rookie quarterback could quickly change a team’s fortunes, they just had to look at the Texans.
Houston went from last place to first in the AFC South last year, largely because of AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. The No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft had a great season, helping Houston win 11 games and reach the divisional round of the playoffs.
Williams and the Bears aren’t worried about comparisons, though. They’re focused on their improvement. The right pieces are in place now, and Williams is the foundation.
“Everything is about the bond and the trust that you build with each other because, then, you play with a different level of intensity, and your mindset is different,” Williams said earlier this summer.
“Everything changes when you’re playing for each other and not just for yourself. The connection you build isn’t just with the 11 players on the field, but also with the next 11 who come on the field, like the defense, and the 53 players on the active roster.
“Everyone is treated with respect, love, and care, but also pushed to be their best. That bond, love, and trust are essential to building something special by the end of the year.”
