Chicago Bears fans got their first look at Caleb Williams on Saturday afternoon. The former USC quarterback has been hyped as the next generational talent for the past year, and we finally got to see him in an NFL uniform. While preseason isn’t a perfect barometer for NFL success, it does give us a glimpse of how comfortable a player can look. Williams didn’t disappoint and fans were left excited about the 2024 season and beyond.

Chicago Bears Caleb Williams Debut

The number one overall pick in the NFL Draft played two series for the Chicago Bears. He completed four out of seven passes for 95 yards and also had a run for 13 yards. The stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. He had some great throws on the run, showing off his athleticism. The generational prospect showed good patience, vision, and instincts.

The reviews from the players on the field were also positive. Star receiver DJ Moore said the debut was “outstanding.” Head coach Matt Eberflus wasn’t surprised by the success considering what he has been doing in practice.

“It’s the fruits of his labor. He’s been working his tail off in practices and even before that, all through the summer. It’s good to be able to say that hey, all this drill work, all the things I’ve been doing, it’s paying off and I can see the improvements. We’re going to look at this tape and look back and say, what can I learn from this? There’s a lot of things you can learn from this process in getting these reps, as he does in practice when he’s going against the 1 defense.”

A Long Time Coming

The Chicago Bears haven’t had an elite quarterback in their history. They have had good quarterbacks but never a game-changing player. Their defense has been elite, like in 1985, but fans hope this is the year their offense can be one of the best in the league. In their rich history, they have never had a 4,000-yard passer. Caleb Williams is looking to change that in his rookie year.

He definitely has a chance to do so. In addition to DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze round out the receiving room. D’Andre Swift adds some electricity to the backfield, which he showed off yesterday, taking a screen pass for 42 yards. Obviously, we cannot overreact to the preseason. However, the Chicago Bears may have finally found their franchise quarterback.