When the Chicago Bears targeted USC blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams as their overall no. 1 pick in the NFL draft, a lot of people had no idea what to expect.
There were, after all, a lot of conflicting takes on the 22-year-old.
Some pegged him as a fearless born leader with an almost superhuman instinct for the game and an innate ability to improvise on the field. Others questioned his mental makeup, poking holes in his mental toughness, his consistency, and even his emotional maturity.
Caleb Williams Bonds With Fans
However, in less than two full months as a Bear, fans have seen nothing but peace and love positivity from the young talent and, frankly, it’s hard not to be “Team Caleb” right now.
For instance, how can you NOT like the way the kid has directly bonded with fans?
It’s one thing to sit with fans and chant “Green Bay sucks” at a local eatery, but when you personally (and publicly) resolve a fan’s social media lament about having to wait nearly five months for his Caleb Williams Bears jersey? That’s enough to make a PR person tinkle their skivvies with glee.
“Hey Connor, it’s Caleb,” Williams said via video message, responding to fan Connor Burns’s public frustration for the jersey holdup. “I just wanted to reach out. I heard that there was a bit of confusion with the whole jersey situation. So I just wanted to reach out, let you know and the fanatics, so that you’ll be one of the first to receive…
“And much love, thanks for the support, and got a little gift for you. We’ll be inviting you to a game. On our behalf, like I said, much love and thanks for the support.”
Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams, and the Power of Positivity
Williams also seems focused on bonding with his new teammates.
“All of us will be getting together,” Williams told media after a rookies-only OTA practice at Halas Hall. “We actually were all texting last night in the group chat trying to figure out where exactly we want to be in the world; where we’re going to be throwing, working out, and bonding and things like that.”
“It means the world,” he added, referring to a level of brotherhood among teammates. “Everything’s about the bond and the trust that you build between each other because then you go out there and your mentality’s different. Everything’s different when you’re out there playing for each other and not out there playing for yourself.
“Everyone’s treated with respect and love and care, but also pushing each other to be at our best. That’s where the connection comes from because you can’t build something pretty special at the end of the year without that bond, love and trust for your brothers.
“It was something that my high school coach really pushed us to be a part of and really believe in and trust. I’ve taken those with me; the little, small things, pieces that he’s given me, and I’ve tried to implement it in any way possible throughout my years of playing, being around my teammates, working hard, pushing each other.”
Well, if that doesn’t hit you in the Gale Sayers-Brian Piccolo heartstrings, nothing will.
Coaches and Teammates Believe
For what it’s worth, Chicago’s coaching staff sees Williams’ positive approach as very much the real deal and feel that his on-field development matches his feel-good mindset.
“The development of Caleb in terms of what he’s gotten to do this offseason has been outstanding,” head coach Matt Eberflus told media, “taking him from knowing just a little bit about the scheme from that Pro Day at USC all the way to where he is now and it’s really good. He’s been able to really refine his understanding of the scheme.”
Teammate and fellow first-round draft pick rookie, wide receiver Rome Odunze agrees that Caleb is THAT guy.
“He’s a leader, pure and simple,” Odunze told reporters. “He leads through example. He leads vocally as well. To be around him as rookie to rookie, we’re both learning the process of this thing and both learning to be in this environment and this new setting, which is unique to both of us.
“But for him to be able to step in there with the veterans as well and command those guys and be a leader for the whole team in general is impressive to me and something that he’s been doing consistently. So, we follow him and we go with him on whatever he wants to accomplish that day. Each and every day, it’s excellence and determination. It’s been an honor.”
Caleb Going Forward
Signing his rookie contract would surely boost the positive energy around him– Williams remains one of a small handful of rookies yet to sign. But it’s expected that he will, indeed, come around and make things official, official.
Then, everyone will see what’s what with the young man spreading the peace and love all over Chicago. If he can’t take that great attitude and make it translate into wins, fans and media will ground and pound that positivity into a messy dark navy and orange mush.
