For the vast majority of the last three decades and change, the Chicago Bears have been sifting through the wilderness, seemingly without a compass. While they did reach the Super Bowl during the 2006 season, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts, more than one generation of NFL fans have grown up only knowing the Bears as a laughingstock.
But that looks like it will likely change. They drafted Caleb Williams, the sensational University of Southern California quarterback, with the No. 1 pick in last month’s draft, and he seems to have stardom dripping off of each of his limbs.
There are some who are a little skeptical that Williams will live up to the hype. But former NFL QB Chris Simms feels he has everything he needs to make it big at the next level with the Bears.
“I look at him as being a natural, being a ‘Chosen One’ type of guy,” Simms said on his podcast, Unbuttoned. “He’s been in an offense in his college career where it was on his shoulders and he was asked to read the field and check and do things at the line of scrimmage. He’s very mature for a quarterback, as far as the play is concerned.”
One concern with any rookie QB who will start right from the start is whether he has the maturity to be the face of his franchise, especially in a big market such as Chicago. But Simms doesn’t seem concerned about that.
“His physical talent is extraordinary. Extraordinary. I also think he has the mentality and the maturity to handle Chicago and handle the new offensive situation,” Simms said. “I know it might not be perfect in Week 1 or 2, but I’m betting more in Week 5 or 6 that– like we saw with C.J. Stroud last year– we’re going to be going ‘Holy crap, Caleb Williams.’”
Simms is the son of Phil Simms, who quarterbacked the New York Giants to a win in Super Bowl XXI over John Elway’s Denver Broncos, so he would know a thing or two about spotting talent.
One advantage Williams will have right away that most QBs who are drafted very high don’t have is the benefit of several legitimate weapons at the skill positions. The Bears have done a great job of adding talent around him.
Chicago already had D.J. Moore, one of the NFL’s more underrated wide receivers. But it also traded for Keenan Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, and it also took Rome Odunze, a wide receiver from the University of Washington who has excellent potential, with the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft.
In addition, Chicago should also be able to provide Williams with support on the other side of the football. It sported one of the more promising young defenses in the league in 2023, especially after it traded for edge rusher Montez Sweat at midseason.
The Bears play in what looks like a very competitive NFC North, so it certainly isn’t a given they will make the playoffs right away. But there is also the potential for them to not only reach the playoffs but to also win a game there if Caleb Williams turns out to be as good as the younger Simms feels he can be.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
