No surprises here.
First overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, quarterback Caleb Williams, is officially the Chicago Bears starting quarterback.
In what was already a given, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus announced Williams as the starter on Friday.
This from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:
#Bears coach Matt Eberflus left no doubt that No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is his starter: “No conversation. He’s the starter.”
The top pick of the 2024 NFL Draft was anticipated to clinch the starting position over Tyson Bagent or Brett Rypien, and Matt Eberflus made it official on Friday.
The Bears swiftly confirmed their starter, reportedly announcing the decision during the initial day of on-field rookie workouts.
Selected as the first overall pick in this year’s draft, Williams becomes the third quarterback the Bears have drafted in the first round since 2017.
Preceding him, Mitch Trubisky (second overall, 2017) and Justin Fields (11th overall, 2021) showed promise but didn’t establish themselves as long-term solutions for the team.
Despite the Bears’ 104-year history and intermittent successes, they’ve yet to secure an elite quarterback.
On Friday, Williams shared insights into his approach to assuming a leadership role while simultaneously immersing himself in understanding the Bears’ culture.
“To be a great leader, you have to learn how to follow first,” Williams said, via ESPN. “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.
“When I get to the point of when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it, the culture, the playbook and what the offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs and tight ends, things like that, then you can start taking the lead, then you can start taking the helms of it and take the next steps. For right now though, I’m listening more than I’m speaking and talking and I’m taking it one step at a time and being in the moment.”
