Pete Thamel: Caleb Williams 'excited for first date' with Chicago Bears, dispells draft speculation

At this point, USC quarterback Caleb Williams seems like the obvious first-overall pick in the draft. However, there are still questions about whether or not it’s going to be the Chicago Bears or someone else who ends up taking Williams there.

Now, at the NFL Combine, Caleb Williams spoke to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, explaining to him that he’s excited about his ‘first date’ with the Bears and dispelling rumors that he may try and force a trade in the NFL Draft.

“A lot stood out, but I think you need to lead with Caleb Williams and the Bears,” Thamel said on SportsCenter. “It’s been the biggest story hovering over this draft since the draft order was set, and Caleb Williams made two things clear to me. He said, one, he’d be excited if he went to the Bears. Now, he [also] said that he’d be excited if the Bears traded him and he went anywhere else, but he said he was open to Chicago. He was excited for his first date with the Bears, as they’ll be one of the teams that he meets with here. He talked about loving Michael Jordan, even deep-dish pizza. He’s studied Walter Payton on YouTube. So, there was an openness from Caleb Williams.”

Caleb Williams explained to Pete Thamel that his relationship to those legendary Chicago athletes is altered by his age. However, he also explained that their status makes the city an exciting one to play in.

“I’m 22. I didn’t really get to see those players,” Williams said. “As the saying goes, the legends live on. That’s my goal of playing football — it’s not money, it’s not fame … it’s to be immortal. I want to reach that sense of being a legend. Being at the table … and having a rightful seat through hard work and energy and time I’ve put into this game that we all love. It’s appealing to be in a city like that. With legends that you’ve looked up to … reach for the standard they set and try to do anything to get there.”

Even amid speculation about his future and not knowing where he’s going to play next season, Caleb Williams is incredibly excited for the future.

“This is what I’ve been preparing for my whole life. Since I was 10 or 11, this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. At that age until now, it basically feels like your whole life,” Caleb Williams said. “I’m excited. I’m ready to get back on a football team around my teammates and my brothers — my new brothers now.”

On top of that, Caleb Williams praised the Bears, saying, “They have a talented team, a talented offense and defense. For anyone to be in that situation, I think they’d be excited.”

Caleb Williams pushed back on draft speculation

There has been a lot of speculation about Williams trying to find a way to manipulate the draft to go to Washington instead of Chicago because that’s where he’s from. However, both Thamel and Williams pushed back against that idea.

“Which leads us to the next thing,” Thamel said on SportsCenter. “There had been scuttlebutt in the vacuum of silence from Caleb Williams that he may try to manipulate the draft or try to do what Eli Manning did a generation ago to the draft. He simply said that wasn’t true. He has no agenda going forward here with the draft. He said it’s ultimately up to the Bears whether they want to pick him or not.”

For his own part, Caleb Williams insisted that his focus is on playing football and winning games.

“My job and my hobby is being at the facility or on the field or watching film. Or relaxing and prepping for the next day or game,” Williams said. “My main goal and focus … is to go win games and stay focused on keeping the main goal the main goal.”

This was a point that Williams made clear to Thamel, insisting that it’s Chicago that has the choice in whether to draft him, draft someone else, or trade the pick.

“I’m not pushing any agenda,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, the Bears have the last say. Regardless of how I feel, I’m not pushing an agenda of, ‘Yeah, I want to go. Or no, I don’t want to go.’ I’m excited for whatever comes.”

So, with all that in mind, what does Caleb Williams actually want in whatever NFL team he ends up playing for?

“Just the constant growth and change, that’s important whether you are a quarterback or wide receiver or a general manager or an owner or an organization,” Williams said. “Just a healthy situation — in the facility, with the players — and just a place that really wants to win.”