In a surprising move, the Chicago Bears have officially named Caleb Williams as their starting quarterback for the upcoming season. The announcement came from coach Matt Eberflus before the team's rookie minicamp.
Williams, who was selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, had already begun preparing for the Bears offense prior to his arrival at Halas Hall. He received some offensive information from the team during his visit to the NFL Combine and worked on it with his personal quarterback coach before rookie minicamp.
Eberflus acknowledged Williams' early preparation, stating that he and his coaches had given him the basics of their offense beforehand. This head start has given Williams confidence as he begins working with his new teammates and learning the intricacies of the Bears offense.
Despite being named the starter, Williams remains humble and focused on improving. He understands that there will be mistakes to eliminate and is determined to grow throughout the training process.
Rookie minicamp also marked Williams' first opportunity to work with his new teammates, including top-10 draft pick Rome Odunze. The two are excited about the prospect of growing together as they learn the offense and build relationships within the team.
The Bears organization has high expectations for Williams, who was a Heisman Trophy winner at USC. They believe he possesses strong leadership qualities and will be an enhancer for his teammates. However, Eberflus emphasized that Williams is still in the learning phase and will need to follow the veterans and coaches to fully understand the team's culture before taking on a leadership role.
Aside from Williams, other rookies like offensive tackle Kiran Amagadjie were unable to practice during rookie minicamp due to injury. The Bears are prioritizing his health for training camp.
