Hard Knocks with Bears: Caleb Williams in spotlight, Jonathan Owens supports Simone Biles

The hopes and dreams of the Chicago Bears and their passionate fanbase ride on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Thematically, the first episode of “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears” is presented as the dawn of a new era for pro football in the Windy City. The first scene comes from the 2024 NFL draft, with Williams entering the picture as a much-hyped, generational prospect capable of turning around a team’s fortunes.

No pressure, kid.

But, Williams is a rookie and will go through growing pains. How he responds will help determine if he reaches his potential.

“Hard Knocks” presents Williams’ camp so far in a way that suggests it hasn’t been all sunshine and daisies. There’s a montage of errant throws from Williams, and dropped passes.

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“These mistakes, these good and bad days that I’m having, I know it’s how you respond and react to those frustrating times is when you grow and get better,” Williams said.

“You have to go through hard to be good. Caleb’s learning that skill set,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus adds.

Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, was a lock to go to Chicago ever since the Bears clinched the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 draft by virtue of what might go down as one of the worst trades (or best, as far as the Bears are concerned) in NFL history.

For the Bears, Williams represents more than just an uber-talented quarterback. This is a franchise that has been almost impossibly inept at the most important position in the game.

The Bears are the only NFL team to never have a quarterback throw for 4,000 or more yards in a single season or for 30 or more touchdowns (Erik Kramer has come the closest at 3,838 yards and 29 TDs, and that came nearly three decades ago during the 1995 season). Contrast that with their ancient archrivals to the North, the Green Bay Packers, who have had a total of 18 4,000-yard passing seasons produced by five different quarterbacks (a list that includes Hall of Famer Brett Favre, to-be Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, the “Majik Man” Don Majkowski and Lynn Dickey). In his first season as a full-time starter, Jordan Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns, statistical milestones never achieved in the 105-year history of the Bears franchise.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have the most 4,000-plus passing yardage seasons with 14 apiece. During the timeframe (1998-2022) of their combined careers, the Bears have used four first-round picks on quarterbacks (Justin Fields, 2022; Mitchell Trubisky, 2017; Rex Grossman, 2003; Cade McNown, 1999).

The bar is real low for Williams to set some new Bears team rookie records (2,194 passing yards: Trubisky, 2017; 11 passing touchdowns: Charlie O’Rourke, 1942 … 1942! The forward pass was barely a thing then).
Williams can be the guy to break through the franchise’s poor history at the position (Hall of Famer Sid Luckman notwithstanding). But first, the tricky part, developing the young passer while he also handles the responsibilities as QB1.

Here to help is college football coaching icon Nick Saban, who drops by to meet with Eberflus, who played linebacker at Toledo, where Saban was head coach in 1990.

It’s quite a luxury to have Saban — winner of seven college football national championships — as a consultant, and he offers sage advice to Eberflus about handling the talented Williams and the predictions of greatness for the rookie quarterback.

“Here’s my theory on why NFL quarterbacks fail at such a dramatic rate. To me, expectations are a killer,” Saban says. “This kid you got, this kid’s got so much media, so much hype, so much expectation on doing well. And he has to develop so quickly to meet the expectations that everybody has for him. It’s almost impossible.”

Eberflus interjects: “Because there is a development phase to this. The first year is rookie, (then the) second year and it’s the third year they got it once they’re in our system.”

“I think that’s the biggest thing you got to worry about with your quarterback, because the expectations are a killer, but yet, to use your word, development is the key for him,” Saban responds. “You know, like Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions when he was a rookie … But it didn’t affect him, just like the scoreboard. Scoreboard don’t mean anything until the game’s over.”

Williams’ progression through training camp and toward the 2024 NFL season will be fascinating to watch in this edition of “Hard Knocks.”

Eight picks after Williams was selected, the Bears drafted Washington WR Rome Odunze, a blue-chip receiver to add to a corps that also included Keenan Allen — who was acquired in a mid-March trade — and DJ Moore — who arrived in that aforementioned lopsided trade with the Carolina Panthers and also just received a lucrative contract extension.

Running back D’Andre Swift (formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles) and tight end Gerald Everett (formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers) were added to the offense, while safety Kevin Byard (formerly of the Eagles) was added to the defense.

There also was an off-the-field addition … Eberflus’ beard. After going some time without shaving, his wife, Kelly, encouraged him to go with the beard.

In Conclusion Biles won three gold medals and a silver medal in Paris. Owens was shown multiple times during NBC Sports’ coverage enthusiastically cheering on Biles from the stands.