My brother once bought me a Rex Grossman Florida Gators jersey, and when Rex was the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, we would hang that jersey in the bar at Josie Woods. Whenever Rex would throw a touchdown pass, I would (drunkenly) shout “WHO WANTS TO GET REXED?!?!?” This was followed by my removing the dank garment from the wall and tossing it over the head of an unwitting bystander to the applause of the celebratory horde. There was an irony to that ritual. I knew Rex Grossman wasn’t a great quarterback and was fairly certain he would never be a great quarterback. But he was our quarterback in that moment and that was all that mattered. I would have done the same for any of ’em.
Miller and Matthews.
Kyle Orton.
Kordell Stewart.
Jay Cutler.
Glennon and Dalton.
Mitch Trubisky.
Justin Fields.
The parade of young men who have attempted to fill this team’s quarterbacking void is a murderer’s row of mediocrity (or worse). It seemed clear to me, as I live out my 43rd year on the planet earth and my 20th year writing about the Chicago Bears, that a franchise quarterback was not something I would ever experience. I had submitted my letter of resignation to my boss at Hope, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Belief Enterprises. The framed pictures of Sarah, Bear and Beatrix that had adorned my office desk were now neatly placed into a cardboard box, as I awaited security’s escort to the parking lot.
But then I woke up on Sunday morning, October 13th, 2024, and everything changed.
Caleb Williams is going to be a great NFL quarterback. It is objectively obvious to anyone who has every watched this sport a day in their life. Lock the front door. Open the bottle of Veuve Clicquot at the back of your refrigerator. Ready the bedroom for an evening of ravenous lovemaking. Because, folks, the Bears finally did it.
Caleb has only played six games in the league, but in those six games he has displayed a remarkable command of the line of the scrimmage and brilliant presence in the pocket. He has one of the strongest arms in franchise history and his accuracy and touch were a thing to behold in London. But what sets Caleb apart from those who have come before him? Projection is not required. Production has come early. Through six games he has thrown for 1,317 yards, which projects to more than 3,700 on the season. He has thrown nine touchdowns to five interceptions, including the four against Jacksonville. And perhaps most importantly, after a slow start, his passer rating has been over 100 for three consecutive weeks.
But at the risk of upsetting the stats and analytics folks, fuck all that. Just use your eyes. This is what a star quarterback looks like. This is how a star quarterback inspires his teammates and enthralls a fan base. This is what it feels like to know your team has a chance every single Sunday because they have a top player in the most important position in team sports.
We’ve hoped and we’ve prayed, been down and dismayed, our dues have been paid. Our reward is Caleb Williams, and the future.