Bears chairman preaches patience with Caleb Williams: 'He's going to make mistakes'

Bears fans shouldn't put Williams into the Hall of Fame just yet

By Bryan DeArdo Aug 30, 2024 at 6:16 pm ET• 1 min read

Yes, the Chicago Bears expect big things from No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. But team chairman George McCaskey wants Bears fans to have realistic expectations when it comes to Williams' rookie season. 

It's safe to say that optimism hasn't been this high in Chicago in quite some time. A lot of that optimism is because of the arrival of Williams, whose presence both on and off he field has received rave reviews in recent weeks. McCaskey is also optimistic; he just wants fans to remember that Williams is still a rookie, after all. 

"Typically, the No. 1 pick in the draft comes into a situation where it's going to take a while for things to come together," McCaskey told the Chicago Sun-Times, via NFL Media. "Caleb's got a lot of support -- a solid defense, good receivers, good offensive line, a good running game, tight ends. But I hope people will be patient. There are going to be growing pains. He's going to make mistakes. That's part of the learning process for any young quarterback."

Caleb Williams CHI • QB • #18 CMP%50.0YDs170TD0INT0YD/Att8.5 View Profile

Anyone who watched Williams this preseason saw a young quarterback who looked anything but. Specifically, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has impressive poise under pressure; he made several plays that were the byproduct of his athleticism, anticipation and football IQ.