The Chicago Bears’ offseason has been all about Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams had a solid rookie season, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. But it could have gone better as a 4-2 start devolved into a 10-game losing streak and a final record of 5-12.
The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus midseason and brought in former Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson as their new head coach. Chicago also beefed up their offensive line, adding guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman to improve a unit that allowed 68 sacks a year ago.
While these moves should help Williams reach his potential, there’s another move that’s flying under the radar. A rookie playmaker has already stood out during training camp, and Williams is already developing a rapport as he tries to find ways to utilize his new weapon.
Caleb Williams Already Developing a Rapport with Bears Rookie Colston Loveland
Williams had high praise for Colston Loveland when speaking to reporters earlier this week. The second-year quarterback noted that he, Loveland, and a bunch of teammates have already been hanging out off the field and noticed his IQ on the field to put himself in the best position to make plays for the offense.
“He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing,” Williams said. “He’s a young cat. So there’s going to be a few mistakes and things like that. And maybe hand placement. But you know, when the ball goes up and things like that, I got all the faith in him.”
Williams also told a story about a play in practice where the ball slipped out of his hands, but Loveland was able to go up and catch it anyway. The play stuck out in Williams’s mind as a moment where Loveland earned his trust and hopes to further establish that connection moving forward.
“[It] was a big catch and things like that provide trust, faith, and belief that whenever that ball goes up in the air, it’s his,” Williams explained. “And so other than that, it’s just building a connection and things like that. Kind of figuring out how he moves and other things like that. So, you know, when we get out there in the field on Sundays, Thursdays, and Mondays…we’re out there rolling.”
Loveland was a controversial pick by the Bears when he was taken with the 10th overall pick in April’s draft. But much of that was the hype surrounding Penn State standout Tyler Warren. While Warren was taken by the Indianapolis Colts 14th overall, Loveland was also worthy of a first-round selection, catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Michigan Wolverines.
While Loveland has jokingly trash talked with his former college quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who the Bears will face when they draw the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, he’s already on his way to forging a new relationship with Williams. That should help Chicago give Williams another resource to reach his ceiling in 2025.