Caleb Williams reveals real story behind his switch from defense to QB
Caleb Williams was selected first overall in the 2024 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears to be their franchise quarterback. However, Williams wasn't always a quarterback but decided to switch positions.
Early in Williams' football career, he played running back and more on defense as a linebacker and safety. Yet, as he saw his team struggle, Williams decided to take ownership into his own hands and become the quarterback.
“I was playing running back and linebacker. A little bit of safety. Then we lost the FBU team, which is the all-star team from each region and state. It was FBU, Maryland national team. We went down, we lost to Harrison Bailey. I didn’t like the way we were playing, we were playing kinda daddy-ball with the coach and the QB on our team. So I switched and my thing was spread the ball around and win games and be a big reason why [we win]," Williams said on Pardon My Take.
Luckily for Bears fans, Williams decided to switch to quarterback, as he is now the franchise quarterback for the team.
Bears named Caleb Williams as their starting QB in 2024
After Chicago drafted Caleb Williams in first overall, there was no question he would be the Bears starting quarterback.
Ahead of the start of the season, Bears coach Matt Eberflus announced that Williams would be the starter.
"No conversation," Eberflus said of Williams, via NFL.com. "He's the starter."
Even though Williams is the face of the Bears franchise, he says he is still learning and wants to make sure he takes everything in from the veterans.
"To be a great leader, you've got to learn how to follow first. So right now, I'm following all the vets, I'm following all the coaches," Williams explained. "I'm listening, having both ears open and my mouth shut.
"When I get to the point, when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do with the culture, the playbook and what the offensive line, receivers are all doing, running backs, tight ends and things like that, then you can start taking the lead, then you can start taking the helms of all 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, being in the moment," he added.
In the preseason, Williams has thrown for 170 yards and won't play in Chicago's final preseason game on Thursday.
The Bears will open its 2024 season at home on Sept. 8 against the Tennessee Titans.