Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Sports Columnist
There are only three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and the Bears changing their starting quarterback every three years.
In the past 32 years, the Chicago Bears have made over 42 changes to their starting QB position. For reference, the Packers have only had 3 different starting QBs over that same period of time. If there is one thing that the Bears are known for (besides their constant failure to meet expectations) it is their absolutely horrendous quarterback drafting skills.
First it was losing out on Daunte Culpepper for Cade McNown in 1999. Then they passed on Patrick Mahomes for Mitch Tribusky in 2017. Their most recent experiment in Justin Fields has proven to be no exception to the Bears long running curse.
Fields lasted just 2 and a half years in Chicago before being traded away for pennies on the dollar to the Steelers. With another dysfunctional roster and the number 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Bears once again tried their hand at the QB lottery, but this time there might actually be some hope.
Chicago selected Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams number 1 overall, making him the 16th QB drafted by the bears across the past 30 years.
Williams was considered the consensus number 1 pick and put up stellar stats on his way to a Heisman season at USC in 2022. After a slightly less impressive but still overall strong season during his sophomore year, WIlliams declared for the 2024 NFL draft and the hype and anticipation was through the roof.
Scouts viewed Williams as the second coming of Patrick Mahomes and fell in love with his arm talent, accuracy, and exceptional processing skills. While only being 6 ‘ 1″, Williams is as strong as they come, being an above average athlete with ability to escape the pocket and make difficult throws on the run.
As soon as the Bears locked in the number 1 overall pick thanks to the Panthers, everyone and their mother knew that Williams would be on his way to Chicago. However, as is the case with over-hyped quarterbacks, Williams is suffering from an extreme case of having unrealistic expectations placed on him as a rookie.
Last year, C.J. Stroud took over the NFL becoming one of the best QBs in the league and leading his Texans to their first playoff win in years. As incredible as this feat was, Stroud’s case is a complete anomaly. In fact, only 2 top pick QBs made the Pro bowl in their rookie season the past 10 years.
Stroud’s unparalleled numbers and performance are something we are unlikely to see replicated for years. Despite this, fans are already holding Williams to the same level that Stroud played at the year before. As talented as Williams is, the chances of him meeting these ballooned expectations in year 1 are slim to none. If Williams fails to live up to those expectations, he will have the label of being a bust placed on him after just his first year in the league like his fellow number 1 overall pick (and the reason he went to Chicago) Bryce Young.
Unlike Bryce and the Panthers however, Bears fans do certainly have a reason to be excited about Williams potential due to the arsenal of weapons he has around him. This past off season, the Bears traded for star wide receiver Keenan Allen to add to the already solid receiving core led by D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet.
Additionally, they drafted Washington WR Rome Odunze to pair with WIlliams and equip him with the means to rack up some big numbers.
While the offensive line is still questionable at best, Williams has still, without a doubt, been put in a position that every rookie QB dreams of. He has the full support of the desperate Bears fan base behind him and the means to be relatively successful early on.
Personally, my feelings of Williams are mixed. While I believe in his talent and his weapons, the unrealistic levels of hype that fans are placing on Chicago this season do not have me sold. One of the reasons the bears are always let down by their quarterbacks is that they place them too high up on a pedestal. This way, when that QB comes crashing down like all the rest they only spiral into their descent of madness and pain even further.
Chicago fans need to cool down and let Williams ease into this evolving Bears team. The less pressure he has on him, the better he will be able to keep his cool and learn how the game is played at the NFL level. If he can do that and the front office equips with a few more assets at his disposal, Williams most certainly has a bright future. Will Williams rise above the pressure and become Chicago’s savior? Or will he just join the long list of failed QBs who had their careers ruined by the everlasting curse of the Chicago Bears?
Photo courtesy: BearsWire: USA Today