"That’s been my biggest thing for me”: When Caleb Williams talked about his rookie season expectations
The Chicago Bears picked Caleb Williams at No. 1 in 2024, as they saw him as their quarterback for the future. However, he kept himself grounded despite being the top pick. The 2022 Heisman trophy winner got his first exposure in the pros after a three-day mandatory minicamp in June 2024. Post-training, he briefed the media about the expectations from his rookie season.
“I didn't come in necessarily with the expectation to be and seem like a 13-year vet," Williams said, via FOX Sports. “I came in to work, to work my tail off, show the guys that I'm here, I'm working my tail off, I'm progressing and trying not to make the same mistake again. That's the biggest thing, day in and day out, is trying not to make the same mistake over and over and learn from them. That's been my biggest thing for me.”
Williams’ words exemplified his maturity and humility to learn and make incremental improvements. He acknowledged that mistakes are acceptable, but repeating them isn’t. Although being the top pick came with heavy expectations from the team and fans, Williams rejected the idea of acting like a veteran to give him enough space to grow.
Caleb Williams sees bright light after a nightmare season
Unfortunately for Caleb Williams, his worst nightmares came true when the Chicago Bears lost 10 games in a row in 2024, placing concerns over his skills. A frustrated Williams discussed his learning curve with ESPN in December.
“It's been frustrating and encouraging,” Williams said. “I would say the frustrating part is obviously we're on how many games now, eight? Yeah, eight-game losing streak.”
However, Williams also emphasized that he never experienced anything like that before. So it was encouraging to see how the Bears fought as a team.
During an interview with Esquire in April, he didn’t change his stance when the season ended.
“I think those losses were pretty important for me and my growth,” Williams said. “To go on a losing streak, to be in this position and be at the helm of it, was definitely important for me. Just being able to see how I need to be when times are bad.”
Williams finished the season with 3,541 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.