Bear Digest

Caleb Williams Has All the Answers at Indy

Caleb Williams came across as a true professional during his first NFL press conference at the scouting combine.
Gene Chamberlain|
Caleb Williams Has All the Answers at Indy
Caleb Williams Has All the Answers at Indy

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Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams says he's his own player and this much was apparent from his first NFL press conference.

Williams effectively addressed many of the pre-combine issues about him including his medical situation with teams at the combine as well as his feelings about possibly coming to the Bears, who are not your standard destination for quarterbacks chosen with a draft's first pick because of their 2023 record.

In essence, Williams in one press conference showed the NFL scene is definitely not  too big for him.

His decision not to participate in combine physicals is tough luck for most NFL teams who want the records and it's basically to address the redundancy of doing too many physicals.

"Yeah, so for the medical stuff I'll be doing the medical stuff, just not here in Indy," he told reporters at the combine. "I'll be doing it at the team interviews (at team sites).

"You know, not 32 teams can draft me. There's only one of me and so the teams that I go to for my visit those teams will have the medical and that will be it."

A key concern about Williams was the way he reacted late last season when USC's season went into the tank. They lost five out of six games, and after the loss to Washington was in the stands with his mother crying. After the loss to UCLA he skipped his postgame press conference.

Williams said he emerged better from the education he received from this situation, with help from Trojans coach Lincoln Riley.

"I learned either you grow from something like that, and Lincoln sat me down after maybe our loss to Utah, I believe, and he sat me down and he said either you grow from something like this or you keep feeling this feeling and you'll stay where you are," Williams said.

The experience of losing so often last year was new for him, he said.

"Yeah, this is one of the seasons that it's none like any other season I've had to where I've been so close to being neutral or close to having a losing record and so it was tough for me. Like i said, I'm a competitor. I like to win."

Like many top quarterbacks, Williams won't throw or take part in athletic testing at the combine.

"I didn't feel the need to go out and throw," he told reporters. "I played around 30-some games, I believe. Go ahead and watch real live ball with me and see how I am as a competitor."

One thing Williams does have to do is be measured and there had been concern in some places he'd be too short.

"This is the first time I'm hearing about my height and size," Williams said. "I'm around Aaron Rodgers' size and maybe weight too—2015, 220 and 6-1, 6-2."

Williams addressed any leadership issues by describing the type of person the Bears or any other team will be getting.

"I'd say the player and person that they'd be getting, a person that cares for his teammates," he said. "Some of you all may have seen, some of you may have not, I try to take care of all my guys no matterr if you've been fourth on the depth chart or you're the star player.

"So I care for my teammates and the other part is I'm a fierce competitor, as you may have seen out there some games."

The idea of not wanting to go to the Bears was another myth that built up around William since the end of the 2023 season. He'd welcome being in Chicago considering most players picked first overall end up with rebuilding teams who own terrible records.

"I mean the Bears are, what is it, an 8-9 team last year, I believe, 7-10, I'm sorry, and that's pretty good for the team that has a the first pick," he said. "And they've got a good defense, they've got good players on offense. And it's pretty exciting if you can go into a situation like that."

As the press conference continued, it became increasingly obvious none of this was too big for a player who will be the likely No. 1 pick. He seemed very at ease in the public eye, which is where a Bears quarterback will be as the first pick of the draft.

"I've said I don't play for fame, I don't play for money, I don't play for jewels and things like that," Williams said. "It's to go out there and win as many games as possible and be the best I can."

Then he went over to a press conference for USC teammate Brenden Rice and posed as a reporter to yell out, "How does it feel to be Jerry Rice's son ... I have another question after that."

Get ready for the show Chicago.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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