Quarterback Caleb Williams actively builds bonds with his teammates, showing a rare leadership that's already filling a void for the Chicago Bears.
Caleb Williams is using his voice now more than ever.
That goes for his role as the starting Chicago Bears’ quarterback on and off the football field.
Free agent acquisition Coby Bryant emphasized that Williams was one of the first people to reach out when he signed his three-year, $40 million contract with the Bears in free agency. That instant interaction left a lasting impression on the Bears’ safety.
“Yeah, it told me a lot, honestly, just that the leader he is at such a young age,” Bryant said. “That's very rare. I've been in the league for five years, and I've never experienced anything like that as far as having that relationship with the quarterback so early. He’s just scratching the surface. He's a great guy. I met him today, and the sky's the limit for sure.”
Williams, 24, didn't reach out just because he feels like he needs to as the starting quarterback or because he has a role in attracting free agents. The Bears’ quarterback understands he is a part of the team and one of the leaders on it.
“I want to be cool with all my teammates,” Williams said. “In that sense I'm no bigger than them. I am just a teammate. I'm one of the guys in the locker room and we have one common goal, it’s to win here. I think my reaching out is just setting the vibe, setting the energy for what we need them to be here. And it's to come here and have that mindset also. We want to win here. That's always the end goal. That's always the goal for us in this building. That's typically what it is.
Then the other half is just building a relationship with them. They're new, I want them to feel – obviously you’ll feel uncomfortable out there on the football field with the coaching and the scheme and all of that. But when you're with the boys, you’ve got brothers protecting your back.”
The Bears lost some key leaders this offseason who were staples while Williams was navigating his way through the NFL. Wide receiver DJ Moore helped create some of the Bears’ biggest plays last season, and Williams admitted he will miss the veteran pass catcher, especially since the two developed a deeper personal connection after hanging out at each other's houses and playing cards.
Williams shared that veteran safety Kevin Byard III was also one of his guys during the two seasons they spent together. With Byard in New England and Moore in Buffalo, there is a natural void in leadership, and Williams has an opportunity to fill the gap.
“But for me, leadership wise, stepping up, I think you’ve got to start off with earning that respect,” Williams said. “A lot of that comes from being able to go win ball games. Doing it on Sundays, and obviously you’ve got to show up, you’ve got to work Monday through Saturday, and then on Sunday’s you’ve got to go win.
It's a seven day a week process. I think I've earned some respect from my teammates. I’ve got to keep earning that. I’ve got to keep doing the same things and doing it better than I did last year and the year before. That's my goal. That's my mindset. It's always lead by example. And then, if anything needs to be said, I don't mind being confrontational about it.”
Now entering Year 3 and in the same offense from a year ago for the first time in his NFL career, Williams has a stronger command of his team and is ready to take on a big role as a leader this upcoming season.