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Caleb Williams celebrates signing bonus in first 'Hard Knocks' clip, flashes 'Horns Down'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•08/01/24•

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Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams at the Hall of Fame Game
© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Before he won a Heisman Trophy at USC, Caleb Williams was a star freshman at Oklahoma. One of his biggest games in Norman came in the annual Red River Rivalry matchup against Texas, which turned out to be a breakout moment as he led the comeback.

But even after two years in Los Angeles with the Trojans, Williams still knows how much the OU vs. Texas rivalry means. In fact, during the first clip released from “Hard Knocks,” he flashed a “Horns Down.”

During the clip, Williams told his teammates about his $25.5 million signing bonus. The reaction – particularly that of Tyson Bagent – quickly went viral. But as he walked through where he went to college, Williams didn’t say “Boomer Soon” while mentioning Oklahoma. Instead, he went with “Horns Down.”

“Caleb Williams. Went to USC and Oklahoma. Horns Down still, Fight On,” Williams said. “And my signing bonus is $25.5 [million].”

The clip debuted during the NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton between Williams’ Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. He didn’t play in the game – nor did a vast majority of the starters – but Chicago came away with the 21-17 victory in less than three full quarters due to weather.

After the Bears took him No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with the pick they acquired from the Carolina Panthers, Williams went through the offseason program as planned. But he didn’t sign his rookie contract until just before training camp as the two sides worked through the language. Ultimately, he signed on the dotted line.

Williams’ rookie deal is for four years and $39 million, and it also includes a $25.5 million signing bonus. He will also have a fifth-year option, which Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported was among the issues in negotiations. Williams – who doesn’t have an agent – also reportedly asked to be paid as an LLC.

That meant Chicago locked up both first-round picks in time for camp to start. Rome Odunze was the franchise’s other first-round pick at No. 9 overall, creating a quarterback-wide receiver duo heading into the 2024 season. Although they didn’t play in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game, the expectation is they’ll get some reps in the preseason.

Williams was on the field Thursday night for warmups, though. He spoke about what it meant during the game during an interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the football field – since November 18. So, being able to get out here and play a game, that time is coming soon,” Williams said. “I told Coach how exciting it feels to be back out on the field finally and that was just for warm-ups, let alone just getting out here and playing.

“Within our protection game, I would say I’ve grown the most. Flipping protections, making checks, getting us out of stuff — I think I’ve gotten a lot better with that. [I’m] still progressing, still growing.”