On April 25, 2024, the Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the NFL draft. Williams, who was widely considered the top prospect in the draft and a generational talent, was drafted to put the Bears on a path to the playoffs, where they hadn’t won a game since 2010. The last two quarterbacks the Bears had drafted were both considered busts. Mitch Trubisky was taken in 2017 second overall and is now the backup QB for the Bills, and Justin Fields was taken 11th and has been the backup for the Steelers and Jets since his Chicago years. They hoped Williams would be different.
The QB’s relationship with the Bears did not get off to a great start. There were rumors that Caleb Williams would never come to Chicago because of their history with developing quarterbacks. He and his family were reportedly trying to find ways for him to avoid playing for the Bears altogether.
“Chicago is where quarterbacks go to die,” said Williams’ father Carl, to Seth Wickersham of ESPN.
After an up-and-down rookie year, he is living up to expectations in his second season. He set the franchise record for passing yards and touchdowns by a rookie, and also the league record for fourth-quarter comebacks. In just his second year, he led the Bears to an 11-6 record, which was good enough to earn the second seed in the NFC playoffs.
“He just seems like he’s persistent and ready to work. I think he could change any team, it’s just the type of person he is,” praised Bears fan and ETHS senior Oaklyn Waldron.
In addition to being a star football player, Williams, along with new head coach Ben Johnson, has been credited by many other Bears players with bringing a culture of fun and discipline to Chicago.
“I think it’s mostly based on positivity. It makes a big difference always seeing him smile on and off the field and bringing that positivity to the team,” said Waldron.
The Bears wanted Williams on their roster to turn the franchise around. What they didn’t know is that they were also bringing in a star off the field for the city of Chicago. From starting a charity to attending sporting events to donating millions of dollars to support the homeless, Williams has put all speculation that he’s unhappy in Chicago to bed.
The Caleb Cares Foundation’s mission is “to prevent bullying, shine a spotlight on mental health, and empower young people.”
The nonprofit has brought over 600 South Side kids to Bears home games, given out “Caleb Cares Hero Awards” to kids who show kindness and respect, and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and meals to various causes. This charity is one of the many ways Caleb Williams has made an impact on Chicago. Another example is supporting other Chicago sports teams and staying engaged with the community year-round.
“Seeing him support not only football, but the city as a whole, changes my view on him, and shows that he really cares about the city, and not just football,” commended Waldron.
Caleb Williams’ actions on and off the field have won over citizens of the Chicago area, not just Bears fanatics.
