The Bears rookie quarterback made an incredible throw late into the second quarter of Saturday’s preseason contest against the Bengals, spinning outside of the pocket before fading away and flicking a perfect 45-yard pass to Rome Odunze.
Caleb finds Rome on the run 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024
📺: #CINvsCHI on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/pUS2TVwuCN
Williams, whom the Bears took with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft out of USC, capped off the drive with another impressive play. Facing third-and-goal at Cincinnati’s 8-yard line, Williams bought time in the pocket and evaded a pair of defenders, before rolling left and running into the end zone.
Caleb the Magician 🪄
— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024
📺: #CINvsCHI on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tuMxB7giTX
In his second preseason game — and first at Soldier Field — Williams played the entire first half and completed 6-of-13 passes for 75 yards and his lone 7-yard rush went for a touchdown. Backup Tyson Bagent took over the offense following halftime.
Williams is currently the betting favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. At DraftKings, he’s currently listed at +135, followed by Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (+475), Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (+650), and Giants receiver Malik Nabers (+1100).
Bears fans have waited for decades for a franchise quarterback. Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a single season and has cycled through numerous signal-callers — most recently Justin Fields — before landing Williams, who the franchise hopes is its savior.
All the feels. pic.twitter.com/2ZCkruSaNt
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 17, 2024
Of course, NFL fans couldn’t keep themselves from reacting to Williams’ brilliance. Several NFL fans and analysts posted on X about how impressed they were with Williams, despite it only being preseason.
these 2 goal-to-go plays from Caleb Williams
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 17, 2024
INSANE
the value of a mobile QB is unparalleled
this rookie is ridiculously special 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HDG3jk0Bvn
This angle of Caleb Williams’ DIME to Rome Odunze 🤯
— PFF (@PFF) August 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/eyN0J8Zi5e
Caleb Williams THROWING DIMES on the run will NEVER get old. He isn’t too off schedule. He doesn’t need to just play within structure. HE JUST NEEDS TO BE HIMSELF. Nothing cookie cutter about his game so we can’t cookie cutter analyze him and try to put him in a box.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 17, 2024
🎥- @NFL pic.twitter.com/5gXgBqdMRT
Caleb Williams, you’ve gotta be kidding me
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) August 17, 2024
Are we still upset because Caleb Williams hugged his mom or are we past that now?
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) August 17, 2024
Caleb Williams looks like he’s been playing in the NFL for ten years.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) August 17, 2024
(buT iz onLy peeSesON)
Still looks highly advanced
Yeah man Caleb Williams is in Minecraft creative mode
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) August 17, 2024
Bears fans prayed for this — Caleb Williams pic.twitter.com/pg9mLkKiho
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 17, 2024
not a TD but this caleb williams guy looks like he’s going to be a problem
— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) August 17, 2024
The “Caleb Williams is already the best QB in Bears history” thing was for hahas and lols during the draft, but actually it was probably just the correct take. https://t.co/03fdH466EE
— Kyle, a Madson (@KyleAMadson) August 17, 2024
The Bears have one more preseason matchup on Thursday against the two-time defending champion Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Williams has drawn plenty of comparisons to Kansas City’s MVP passer. Perhaps this weekend provided a glimpse into what’s in store with Williams leading the Bears.