How Caleb Williams impressed Bears chairman George McCaskey in brief combine interview originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
ORLANDO — A number of NFL owners would be front and center if their team had the No. 1 overall pick, wanting to play at least some role in the franchise-shaping decision that looms.
Bears chairman George McCaskey isn’t one of those owners. If you ask him to describe his role in the quarterback decision that awaits general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, he would simply respond by saying, “None.”
But McCaskey often sits in on combine interviews with top prospects. He doesn’t say anything. He just observes. So he got an introduction to presumptive No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams when the USC star met the Bears’ decision-makers in Indianapolis for 10 to 15 minutes in late February.
It was just a brief meet-and-greet, but a relevant one as the Bears plan to build the future of their franchise around Williams.
“The thing that impressed me is, I think it was at 10:40 at night, and he was remarkably gregarious, engaged, and friendly,” McCaskey said Tuesday at the annual NFL league meetings in Orlando. “When they got down to football, he was right in it.”
When asked if he asked any questions during the Bears’ interviews with the quarterback prospects, McCaskey immediately dismissed the notion.
“Absolutely not.”
In trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, Poles cleared the way for Williams to land in Chicago.
Poles, Eberflus, and the Bears’ offensive staff flew to Los Angeles to spend a few days with Williams. They took him and his draft-eligible teammates to dinner and spent a day putting Williams through an offensive install before attending USC’s pro day.
Williams has impressed Poles and Eberflus with his maturity, leadership, and strong connection to his teammates and staff.
The Bears will host Williams on a top-30 visit at Halas Hall in early April. It’s at that time…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/caleb-williams-impressed-bears-chairman-211657995.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-03-26 21:16:57
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