After getting it wrong with Justin Fields, Bears must show they’ve learned their lesson with Caleb Williams
The limit on how good Fields could be wasn’t nearly as lofty as the Bears envisioned. But they also fell far short of getting the most out of him, and they can’t repeat those errors with Williams.
The year before Ryan Poles stepped in as the Bears’ new general manager in 2022, his predecessor mortgaged the franchise’s future — a future that ultimately wouldn’t include him — by trading up to draft quarterback Justin Fields 11th overall.
Ryan Pace gave up what would’ve been Poles’ first-round pick (No. 5 overall) in his first draft class. That actually would’ve been fine if Fields had turned out to be the game-changing quarterback the Bears have long craved.
In a perfect world, Fields would’ve been an NFL version of the dynamic player he was at Ohio State, and Poles could’ve built around him. Instead, the Bears are restarting yet again this season with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
The Bears became on trend this offseason, though they were fashionably late.
The most remarkable part of the Bears naming rookie Caleb Williams their starting quarterback in May is that it had been widely presumed they would do so. They drafted the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner first overall in April, one month after trading Justin Fields and not bothering to replace him with a veteran backup.
The Bears had caught up with the rest of the league — finally.
Caleb Williams is stepping into a leadership role with the Chicago Bears as the team prepares for its season opener against the Tennessee Titans. The rookie quarterback, who was the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been named one of the team’s eight captains. The Bears recently announced Williams’ captaincy alongside seasoned players like Jaylon Johnson, DJ Moore, Kevin Byard, Marcedes Lewis, Tremaine Edmunds, Cole Kmet and T.J. Edwards. This recognition comes after a summer filled with speculation about his leadership abilities, which many believed were exaggerated concerns stemming from his time at USC. “To be a great leader, you’ve got to learn how to follow first,” Williams told reporters in May. “So, right now I’m following all the vets, I’m following all the coaches. I’m listening – having both ears open and my mouth shut. Just kind of sitting back, listening.
“And when I get to the point of, when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it – the playbook, the culture, and what the offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs, tight ends, and things like that, then you can start taking the lead. Then you can start taking the helm of all of it and take the next steps.” Williams has focused on learning from his veteran teammates and coaches, emphasizing the importance of understanding the team’s dynamics and playbook before taking charge. His commitment to hard work and improvement has earned him respect within the locker room.
