Quarterbacks don’t play well in Chicago. That is the running gag, and it’s been going on for decades. So it’s easy to understand why Bears fans are reluctant to buy into the idea that Caleb Williams will be successful right away. Nobody disputes his talent. Few can throw the football with such effortless ability as he does. He’s also an improvisational savant, often creating big plays out of nothing. Even so, fans have heard this sale pitch before. They need to see it on the field before buying in.
That hasn’t stopped others without ties to the organization from making their proclamations. Count Tyler Dunne of Go Long among them. He delivered one of the most eye-popping articles on the Bears a couple of months ago, revealing details on the disastrous runs of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields before digging into Williams. From what he’s heard, the kid is the real deal. He is the first genuine dude the Bears have added in ages. Yet that isn’t why Dunne is convinced the #1 overall pick will come out of the gates hot.
It’s the situation around him.
That is to say, it depends on how much he feels like needing to be the hero. As Dunne stated, part of being a good quarterback in the NFL is understanding there are times when the cape needs to stay in the closet. Don’t be afraid to take the easy completions. Let your playmakers make the plays for you. It’s why they’re getting paid. D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet all understand how to make things happen. Don’t overthink it. If one of them is open, they get the football. Plain and simple.
The trick of playing quarterback in the NFL is understanding when a big play needs to be made. It can’t be all the time. That isn’t how this league works. Defenses are too good to let quarterbacks get away with it. Ryan Poles said quarterbacks can be separated into two categories: chefs and surgeons. One is a mastery of creativity. The other is utterly precise in their operation. The truth is you need to be a little of both to make it in the NFL. Caleb Williams is about to get his chance.
