Caleb Williams will become the second quarterback taken in the 1st round that Teven Jenkins has played with in his career. He came in the same year as Justin Fields, being there for the entire experience. Jenkins always professed loyalty and admiration to the former Chicago Bears quarterback. However, he also understood that the NFL is a results-based business. No matter how hard Fields worked, it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t produce results on the field. While there were some spectacular moments, they weren’t numerous enough. Combine that with a lack of winning, and the decision to pivot to Williams wasn’t a surprise.
Since arriving in April, the veteran guard has spent a couple of months in the quarterback’s presence. He’s seen many of the same things his teammates have. Williams is personable, down-to-earth, and ultra-competitive. Jenkins also noticed something else—something he believes will be crucial to the quarterback’s success (and survival) on this team. He explained this to Carmen Vitali of Fox Sports.
“You can tell that he’s definitely a businessman,” Jenkins tells me. “The way he carries himself everywhere. He doesn’t let the outside noise get to his mental. It’s good he can do that, especially in Chicago.”
His eyes dart side to side.
“I’ve seen things these past few years,” he says knowingly, likely referring to Bears’ fans — shall we say passion? — for the team. “So, I’d say he definitely has a good head on shoulders and is going in the right direction.”
When the off-season began, GM Ryan Poles stated several things he was looking for in a quarterback. Arm talent and accuracy were obvious. The ability to be creative and make plays were others. He needed somebody who could make smart decisions and not commit constant turnovers. By far, his biggest key was the young man’s ability to handle the noise.
“Especially being a quarterback in this city? You’ve got to have it right. You have to have mental toughness. You’ve got to be able to block things out.”
The fact that Teven Jenkins pointed this out as Williams’ most notable character trait is a great sign that Poles got it right. While the quarterback may express emotions when he loses, don’t mistake that for mental weakness. What people think about him is immaterial. In fact, he almost welcomes the criticism. He uses it as fuel to make himself better. That is why he’s so active on social media. He is always listening. Jenkins seems to appreciate that about his new quarterback. Having somebody with the emotional maturity to handle the swirling maelstrom of Chicago football fever is great to see.
