Bears Officially Make Decision On Caleb Williams Status

The Chicago Bears have officially announced No. 1 overall 2024 NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams as their starting quarterback for his rookie season.

Head coach Matt Eberflus confirmed his decision while speaking with reporters during the second day of the Bears' rookie minicamp on Friday (May 10) via CBS Sports.

Williams, 22, who won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell, Walter Camp and AP College Football Player of the Year awards in 2022, was long suspected to be selected by the Bears after the franchise secured the eventual No. 1 pick in a trade made with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. Chicago traded former No. 11 overall pick Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March to clear the way for Williams to take over as the team's franchise quarterback.

"To be a great leader, you have to learn how to follow first," Williams said on Friday (May 10) via ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "So right now I’m following all the vets, I’m following all the coaches, I’m listening – having both ears open and my mouth shut – just kind of sitting back listening. When I get to the point of when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it, the culture, the playbook and what the offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs and tight ends, things like that, then you can start taking the lead, then you can start taking the helms 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 and being in the moment."