Getting to know Caleb Williams has been the mission of fans since the Chicago Bears made him the #1 overall pick in April. No avenue has helped this more than the five-episode season of Hard Knocks on HBO. Through its behind-the-scenes access, fans have gotten a tremendous look at Williams as a player and person. He’s an excellent teammate. His relationship with head coach Matt Eberflus is still new but growing through constant private discussions. We also learned that Williams is unique in how he approaches the mental side of the game.
The quarterback insists he doesn’t get nervous for games. It has nothing to do with some misguided sense of confidence. It is more because he trusts his preparation. When it’s time to play, he feels he’s ready. Hard Knocks finally provided evidence of why. It turns out that Williams often talks to himself during practice. Sometimes it’s him going through various reps in his head, making sure he has the details right.
Other times, he constantly tells himself to keep going, keep working, stay focused, and breathe. His self-motivation is evident. It isn’t hard to understand why this kid finds success everywhere he goes.
Lots of quarterbacks work hard. The key difference with him is he’s obsessed with becoming great. Constantly talking to himself in the middle of practice is something only fierce competitors do. They have to keep themselves motivated at all times because the work is both hard and ceaseless. Tom Brady warned him about this. You have to find something to push you every single day. It appears Caleb Williams took those words to heart. Whatever it takes to get his juices flowing, he will do it. The first test is mere days away. The Bears will host the Tennessee Titans in the season opener. No doubt the opponent plans to attack him aggressively, hoping to overwhelm his rookie brain with blitzes and disguised coverages. If the past month is any indication, that alone won’t be enough.
