Achi news desk-
Caleb Williams is headed to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday night’s NFL draft after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC.
Williams is the third quarterback Chicago has selected in the first round in the last eight years. Mitch Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, lasted four seasons. Justin Fields, the 11th pick in 2021, was traded for a conditional sixth-round pick after three seasons.
The 22-year-old Williams has the task of turning the Bears into a winner after years of futility. Chicago has only had two winning seasons since its most recent playoff victory in the 2010 season.
Williams was the clear front-runner in a rich quarterback draft that includes 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy. The Bears did not meet with any other QBs and Williams did not visit with any other teams.
He impressed his future team over a lunch with several Bears players last month, showing them he’s more substance than Hollywood style.
“It was good for them to be able to go back to the (front office) and talk about how I am instead of all the things that everyone sees on me every day,” Williams said on Wednesday.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was convinced Williams was the right choice after receiving positive feedback from the veterans.
“He came across as a very good teammate, easy to talk to, down to earth,” said Poles this week. “We’ve talked through this process about the whole Hollywood thing. well, wanting to win as a team. That’s the No. 1 thing for him on top of being successful that he’s doing, so that’s a positive thing.”
Williams has high goals. He has talked about playing 20 years for one team and chasing Tom Brady’s record of seven Super Bowl titles. The Bears have only won it once following the 1985 season.
A dual-threat player with a strong arm and ability to improvise, Williams threw 93 touchdown passes and ran for 27 scores in three seasons at Oklahoma and USC.
The Bears are the only NFL franchise that has not had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season. They passed up on Bryce Young and CJ Stroud last year and traded the No. 1 pick to Carolina in a blockbuster deal only to get the top pick this year after the Panthers went 2-15.
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