Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has yet to sign his rookie contract, but he’s very much a Bear.
That was apparent Saturday, when coach Matt Eberflus, general manager Ryan Poles, receiver DJ Moore and even longtime equipment manager Tony Medlin were in attendance when Williams presented Caleb Cares Hero Awards in the Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center in Pullman.
The Bears still haven’t signed Williams, the first overall pick in the draft in April, or receiver Rome Odunze, whom they picked ninth overall. They are two of five players drafted in the top 18 yet to sign. The clock is ticking, with rookies and injured players reporting Tuesday to Halas Hall.
Rookie contracts — four years with a fifth-year team option for first-round picks — are fairly standardized. What’s left to negotiate typically revolves around language surrounding bonuses, guarantees and offsets. Williams doesn’t have an agent certified by the NFL Players Association and has to negotiate for himself, though he’s using legal advisers.
‘‘My lawyer and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there at the top is handling that,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s not my position that I’m handling.’’
It’s unclear whether Williams will report Tuesday without a deal — the first practice isn’t until Saturday — but he was quick to say he is eager to get going.
#Bears QB Caleb Williams is in Pullman handing out his Caleb Cares award for showing kindness and respect. The winners get footballs, and a chance to catch them! pic.twitter.com/OwBFXeIDeV
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) July 13, 2024
‘‘You start getting to the end of the break and you’re training and you’re ready to go,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m really excited, ready to go. I’m really happy to be back in Chicago and to get this thing going. We’re only about three weeks away [from the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 1 against the Texans].’’
Students from CPS high schools watched Saturday while Williams saluted those among them who demonstrated kindness and respect, which discourages bullying. He was introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson, who said Williams was ‘‘demonstrating his love for humanity,’’ and Ald. Michelle Harris.
The winning students received footballs, which Williams happily threw into the stands.
‘‘A big reason why I started is to help out in areas where I would say it’s needed — or where it’s shown, percentage-wise, it’s needed,’’ said Williams, who also has honored students in Los Angeles and his hometown of Washington as part of Caleb Cares. ‘‘It’s huge for me to start in places that I can be or have been [in] and be able to reach and use my platform to reach people. So it’s great to start it here in Chicago.’’
