NFL QB coach questions whether Bears are the right landing spot for Caleb Williams

When the NFL Draft starts on Thursday, it’s widely assumed the Bears will take Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. But not everyone believes that Chicago is the right landing spot for him.

An NFL quarterback coach who spoke with Kevin Fishbain and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic questioned the Bears’ ability to develop and build around a rookie QB.

“Defensive head coach [Matt Eberflus is] on the hot seat. New offensive coordinator [Shane Waldron]. There was quarterback stuff with the last No. 1 guy with Justin Fields. Half of the team wanted him to stay. Maybe half of them didn’t,” the coach said. “Those things are huge factors for a young QB coming in at the start of his career. You have to have stability somewhere, whether it’s the head coach, the system, the QB coach, whatever that is, you need it.”

Eberflus posted a dreadful 10-24 record in his first two seasons with the Beras. Feldman and Fishbain note that while his relationship with the front office is strong, that could change if the team fails to improve this upcoming season. 

Historically, the Bears have struggled to develop young passers. They’ve never had a QB throw for 4,000 or more passing yards. For his part, though, Williams doesn’t seem concerned about Chicago’s past and believes he will become a star in the “Windy City.” 

“I want to play at one place for 20 years and chase one guy, [future Hall of Famer Tom Brady],” Williams said on a recent episode of “The Pivot Podcast.” “I want a place that loves ball. That’s all I’ve heard about Chicago so far.”

The Bears upgraded their offense this offseason – which could help the 2022 Heisman winner succeed – by acquiring six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers and signed Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24M deal.