The Chicago Bears have chosen to move off from Justin Fields and steer the franchise in a new direction. One that involves drafting USC star quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Despite all the controversy and criticism, Williams has shown that he delivers where it matters most: on the field. But with NFL Insider Albert Breer’s latest article on Caleb Williams, there’s more than meets the eye.
Bears’ Caleb Williams 5-Word Message Shows Why He’s Special
Williams Is Already That Guy
“I know who I am,” was Williams’ five-word message after practice. Despite all the criticism regarding his painted nails and eccentric fashion style, fans don’t have the chance to see Caleb for who he is as a person. He’s serious about football, which is good, but he also cares about his teammates and works for a common goal.
“I know what I like. I know what I like to do. I know where I like to go. I think that’s the first part—knowing who I am. The second part would be, I learned at a young age, I can’t make everybody happy.”
Don’t mistake this for arrogance; that’s not what it is. It’s about being confident in who he is and understanding the gravity of being an NFL quarterback. These qualities are what set Super Bowl-caliber quarterbacks apart from the rest.
Turning Criticism Into Motivation
In an excerpt from Breer’s article, it says the following.
“Let’s begin with a key distinction: While Williams said he doesn’t take the critisicm to heart, he did not say that he doesn’t hear it. He does. In fact, he actually seeks it out.”
Williams goes on to say he uses the criticism towards him as a mode of motivation that fuels him to succeed both on and off the field. “There’s always something,” Williams stated. “LeBron [James] always says, and has said before, he only needs one thing. He walks into the stadium, all he needs is one fan, one thing through the week or before the game. Some of it is motivation and some of it is psyching yourself out. That’s the other part. It’s knowing myself.” While it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and praise, it’s even easier to let negativity affect your emotional stability and impact your performance. But not for Williams.
Caleb Williams’ Acts Of Humility
Breer also highlighted acts of humility on Williams’ part that went unnoticed through all the media coverage leading up to the draft.
“The other side is how a piece of his decision making in opting out of the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27, before he’d even officially declared for the draft, was to give his backup, Miller Moss, a shot to showcase his talents.”
“The other side is how he decided to throw at USC’s pro day, after making business decisions to skip medicals, throwing drills and athletic testing at the combine, because he knew it was better for his teammates trying to impress NFL folks that day…”
“The other side may be best shown in how Williams took his NIL money and flew eight offensive linemen with him to New York for the Heisman ceremony in 2022, another example of not just being a good guy, but also understanding his place as the quarterback.”
Williams’ goal isn’t to be noticed for his acts of kindness. It’s to “be the same guy every day.” If he continues on this path, a bright future likely awaits him.
Main Image: Daniel Bartel – USA Today Sports
