Caleb Williams has been officially announced as the new quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
The Bears made a significant move in the 2024 NFL draft by selecting Williams as their top pick. After weeks of anticipation, the Chicago franchise officially announced the union between Williams and the team on Thursday night in Detroit.
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USC has produced six No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft, and Williams is the latest addition to that impressive list. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 215 pounds, he was widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
Williams made the move to USC from Oklahoma in 2022, accompanying head coach Lincoln Riley. During his time in Los Angeles, he enjoyed two incredibly successful years.
In 2022, Williams showcased an exceptional performance by passing for an impressive 4,537 yards and securing the top spot in the nation with an astounding 42 touchdowns, all while maintaining a remarkable record of just five interceptions. His outstanding performance earned him not only the prestigious Heisman Trophy but also the AP Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award, solidifying his position as a true standout in college football.
In the previous season, Williams showcased his impressive skills by throwing for 3,633 yards, recording 30 touchdowns, and only throwing five interceptions.
The USC quarterback holds numerous single-season records, such as total yards (4,919 yards), most total touchdowns (52), passing yards (4,537), and touchdown passes (42).
In the NFL draft, Williams becomes the latest quarterback to be chosen as the number one overall pick, making it the sixth time in the last seven years.
Bears’ path to Caleb Williams
The Bears secured the coveted 2024 No. 1 overall pick through a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. This trade allowed the Panthers to move up to the top spot in last year’s draft, where they selected quarterback Bryce Young. Not long after, in March, the Bears made another significant move by trading their former starting quarterback, Justin Fields, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This trade paved the way for Williams to step into the starting role in Chicago.
The Bears attended Williams’ performance at USC’s pro day, and the quarterback also visited Chicago before the draft.
Chicago’s cold history with quarterbacks
The Bears franchise has been plagued by subpar quarterback play for a long time. Throughout NFL history, Chicago stands alone as the only team that has never seen a quarterback surpass the 4,000-yard mark in a single season.
Since 1951, the Bears have only had a total of five Pro Bowl quarterbacks. Among them, Johnny Lujack (1951-52) and Ed Brown (1955-56) stand out as the only Bears quarterbacks who have been honored with multiple Pro Bowl appearances.
General manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and the rest of the Bears organization are optimistic that Williams can bring a much-needed change to the quarterback situation in Chicago.
