Ryan Poles confesses he did not notify Caleb Williams that the Bears would choose him prior to the NFL draft.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke with the media this week about his team’s pre-draft preparations, and he said they let first-round pick Caleb Williams sweat it out until draft night. There was every sign that Chicago would go with the former USC star, but it wasn’t until he saw the phone number with the area code that he realized where he was heading. “No, no, no (I didn’t tell him), but I believe he knew,” Poles said on the Pat McAfee Show.
Even though Poles did not reveal the team’s plans to his new star quarterback, the Bears GM quickly identified him as his top choice. His conversations and visits with the Bears personnel simply confirmed what they had seen on tape. As much as the talking heads on TV liked to heighten the suspense with speculation, Chicago stood firm in their decision, and they were the only team to invite him for a top-30 visit. “His film was the film that stood out and kind of had my heart from the beginning,” Poland added. “But as we spent more time with Caleb, completed our schoolwork, and got to know one other, it became increasingly evident.
“I believe that before beginning a relationship, you must see the individual, spend actual time with them, and not be influenced by anyone else’s opinions. We sat down and enjoyed dinner together. Our entire team got to spend time with him. Some of our players also spent time with him, which is very important to me and the rest of the locker room. We didn’t care what anyone else said after we checked those boxes.” The Chicago Bears have sold on Williams as the franchise’s future.
Williams had an impressive college career, beginning with Oklahoma in 2021 and ending with two years at USC. His most productive season came as a sophomore in 2022, when he passed for 4,537 yards, ran for 382 yards, and scored 50 touchdowns (40 in the air and 10 on the ground). That helped him win the Heisman Trophy. After winning the Heisman, his name rose to the top of the draft boards for 2024.
Williams didn’t have the same level of success in 2023, but his numbers remained impressive. He passed for 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, plus 11 rushing scores. USC had an up-and-down year on way to a 7-5 record, with the defense struggling, but Williams’ draft stock remained unchanged. He will now aim to become the franchise quarterback that Bears fans have been waiting for.