Caleb Williams is done with the speculation, is ready to lead the Bears

No more speculation, no more talk, no more hot takes. It’s time for Caleb Williams to lead the Bears in an NFL regular-season game. We’re all watching.

USC Trojans Heisman Trophy Winning quarterback Caleb Williams, whom the Chicago Bears picked No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL draft, was voted one of the team’s eight captains heading into the big season opener against the Tennessee Titans.

The Bears announced earlier this week that rookie quarterback Caleb Williams would serve as a captain alongside veterans Jaylon Johnson, DJ Moore, Kevin Byard, Marcedes Lewis, Tremaine Edmunds, Cole Kmet and T.J. Edwards.

“To be a great leader, you’ve got to learn how to follow first,” Williams told reporters in May. “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. And when I get to the point of, when I learn everything, when I learn the ways of how we do it — the playbook, the culture, and what the offensive line, wide receivers are all doing, running backs, tight ends, and things like that, then you can start taking the lead. Then you can start taking the helm of all of it and take the next steps.”

Concerns about Williams’ leadership skills at USC were a big — albeit bogus and overinflated — talking point around him heading into the draft and during the offseason. He appears to have quieted those concerns with the Chicago Bears.

“When you come to work every day like he did, and go through the things that he had to grow through, especially against the defense, and you see the work that he was putting in day in and day out, I mean you can’t do anything but respect that and want him to be a captain for you,” wide receiver DJ Moore said.

The Bears will focus on their Week 1 contest Sunday against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field.

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