USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ first-round pick in the NFL draft.
Caleb Williams is on his way to Chicago, where he hopes to become the franchise quarterback that the city has been seeking for decades. The Bears chose Williams with the first overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, having decided weeks before to bet on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC. Williams is Chicago’s third first-round quarterback pick in the in eight years. Mitch Trubisky, the second overall pick in 2017, played four seasons. Justin Fields, the 11th overall pick in 2021, was dealt for a conditional sixth-round pick after three seasons.
Williams, 22, is tasked with converting the Bears into winners after years of disappointment. Since their last playoff triumph in 2010, Chicago has had only two winning seasons. Williams was the clear favorite in a quarterback-heavy draft that included 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy. The Bears met with no other quarterbacks, and Williams did not visit any other clubs.
He charmed his prospective squad during a meal with many Bears players last month, demonstrating that he is more substance than Hollywood style. “It was good for them to be able to go back to the (front office) and speak on how I am instead of all the stuff that everybody sees every day on me,” Williams told reporters on Wednesday. Bears general manager Ryan Poles was certain Williams was the proper option after hearing encouraging feedback from the veterans.
“He came across as a really good teammate, easy to talk to, and down to earth,” Poles explained this week. “Throughout this process, we’ve discussed the whole Hollywood thing. He’s all ball; he wants to work, improve, and win with his squad. That, in addition to success, is his number one priority. So, I believe the most important question is whether he is compatible with our culture and our goals. And all indications were that he does, so that’s a plus.” Williams has lofty objectives. He has expressed interest in playing for one team for 20 years and tying Tom Brady’s record of seven Super Bowl championships. The Bears have only won it once, after the 1985 season.
Williams, a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and the ability to improvise, tossed 93 touchdown passes and ran for 27 more during his three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. The Bears are the only NFL team that has not had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season. They passed on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud last year and traded the No. 1 pick to Carolina in a blockbuster transaction, only to reclaim the top pick this year after the Panthers finished 2-15.