One of the first things Caleb Williams said when he got to the NFL was his primary goal. It wasn’t going to the Hall of Fame, winning MVP, or making lots of money. His entire focus was chasing Tom Brady’s NFL record of seven Super Bowl championships. Why play the game if you’re not striving to be the best? Williams is the first Bears quarterback to state his goals with such clarity. There is no telling how far he will go in the NFL. Winning one Super Bowl is hard enough. Seven feels impossible. Then again, nobody thought Brady could do it until he did.
Reaching that point will require Herculean effort, unceasing grit, and a competitive streak that swings way into the borders of obsession. Finding that mentality isn’t easy. Perhaps the best way to reach it is by learning from the GOAT himself. Michael Rubin of Fanatics, along with Brady and Jay-Z, hosted every 1st round quarterback for breakfast to talk sports and business. Williams was spotted sitting right next to Brady. One can safely assume he wasted no time picking the future Hall of Famer’s brain.
One is preparation. People talk about his ability to read the field and make great decisions. That came from incessant prep work every week. He went into each game knowing what opponents were likely to throw at him. Another is diet. Brady’s longevity came from a remarkably strict regimen that ensured his body was always at peak efficiency. This helped him avoid injuries and other typical body issues attributed to aging. Last but not least is understanding how to play the game from the pocket. Williams has so many strengths when making plays outside the offensive structure, but Brady’s strength was dissecting opponents from inside it.
Once you’re able to do both, nobody can stop you.
That is the level Caleb Williams has to reach if he wants to start winning championships. Brady can’t show him the blueprint. They aren’t the same type of player. Williams will have to chart his own path. Still, any advice he gets from somebody of that stature is incredibly beneficial. Kobe Bryant said the same when he had discussions with Michael Jordan. Asking for advice is one thing. Taking it is another. We will soon find out what, if anything, Williams learned.
