Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is a confident individual. He has embraced the benefits of the inevitable ups and downs of a rookie season even with those heightened expectations. Williams spoke about looking at everything as a chance to learn and get better on Day 1 of training camp.
His comments piqued the interest of NFL Network?s Tom Pelissero, who made a lofty comparison for the 22-year-old quarterback.
Bears’ Caleb Williams Can Be ‘Biggest Thing in Chicago Since Michael Jordan’
Bears’ Caleb Williams ‘Impressed’ Insider
?I’ve been impressed with what I’ve heard from Caleb Williams, what I’ve seen from him in terms of how he’s handled everything. Going all the way back to the combine and during the pre-draft process, he did virtually nothing the way that every other prospect has done it,? Pelissero said on ?The Rich Eisen Show? on July 19.
?I think that what he’s presented so far publicly, knowing that he’s going to be under an extreme microscope, I mean this is a guy who ? and I understand the gravity of what I’m about to say ? ? Caleb Williams has the opportunity to be the biggest thing in Chicago since Michael Jordan.?
Jordan has not played for the Chicago Bulls since the 1997-1998 season.
Yet he remains the most revered sports figure in a town that has plenty of them to choose from. His influence is not limited to the hardwood.
His legacy includes numerous accolades, including MVPs, All-Star selections, scoring titles, Olympic gold medals, and most importantly, six championships. It is those titles that many believe solidify the greatness that Jordan?s individual accomplishments showed.
That is a lofty target for a player who was not born when Jordan last suited up for the Bulls.
?He is going to be handled by the media, by fans like he has the opportunity to be the biggest thing in Chicago since Michael Jordan,? Pelissero said. ?In other words, with the great power comes great responsibility. And so to this point, he’s passed the tests in terms of how he’s just gone through things. And everything I hear behind the scenes in Chicago going all the way back to their interactions with him prior to the draft were all very positive.?
Caleb Williams? ?Transition? is to ?NFL-Style Offense?
Players noted that being louder in the huddle was one of the more notable things that Willams needed to work on during the spring. But ESPN?s Jeremy Fowler reported on a more significant adjustment.
?I’ve talked to somebody with the team who said you can feel and see how talented he is. He makes the wow throws. Smooth mover,? Fowler said on ?NFL Live? on July 19. ?The transition is with the NFL-style offense: the play action, the stuff under center that he didn’t do at USC. You could see was a little bumpy at times in the spring.
?They know that Caleb Williams has been working on it tremendously. Even dating back to the late winter with his private quarterbacks coach Will Hewlett, he was doing the steps, the footwork in anticipation of being a Chicago Bear. So now he’s got to get that down. But I’m told Williams likes it. He believes that that will protect him long term, being able to take the ball under center.?
Bears Rallying Around Caleb Williams
Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus said the decision to let Williams start from Day 1 is a product of their belief in him as a prospect.
General Manager Ryan Poles said he wants the rookie to lean on his teammates.
Those same teammates ? while willing to hold him accountable, as Williams said of tight end Cole Kmet ? are also ready to pick him up and help guide him through these unprecedented waters.
