Caleb Williams has already built quite a reputation for what happens when the Chicago Bears need him late in games. Apparently, there is a routine behind those moments, and Williams believes the ability to deliver under pressure goes beyond preparation alone.
Caleb Williams believes the clutch gene is real
During his appearance on Hot Ones, host Sean Evans brought up an interesting debate in sports. Some research has questioned whether being clutch is actually a distinct trait, rather than something fans identify after remembering the successes and forgetting the failures.
Williams wasn't buying it.
"I do, I do. I really do," Williams said when asked if the clutch gene is real. "Actually, I think some people have it, some people don't."
There was some evidence behind the question. Evans noted that Williams set an NFL record with seven fourth quarter comebacks last season. Williams believes performing in those situations is partly a mindset, but he also thinks the ability can improve or deteriorate.
"I think you can also make it stronger or make it all, like it can also weaken," Williams said. "And so I think part of it's a mindset and I think some things you can't research."
That is where Williams revealed what actually happens when the Bears need him to produce a late score.
Williams has a routine for pressure situations
There is no complicated ritual or elaborate process. Williams takes a deep breath.
"I think when it becomes that moment that, you know, we need to go score, I take that deep breath right before the moment and then it zones me in and it feels like everything's shut off," Williams said.
The explanation gets more interesting from there.
Williams said the breath takes him back to the work he put in before those situations ever arrived. He thinks about training in Jacksonville and Los Angeles along with throwing to his teammates in Chicago. All those relatively boring reps suddenly have a purpose when the Bears are staring at a game they need to steal.
"And it snaps me into that mode," Williams said. "And I think the full trust and faith and belief goes into my coaches, my teammates, and myself."
Call it the clutch gene, confidence or simply a quarterback trusting thousands of previous repetitions. Williams clearly believes something changes for him when the pressure rises.
Chicago saw plenty of it last season.
Plenty of quarterbacks can look comfortable when everything is going according to plan. The more valuable ones tend to reveal themselves when the plan has already gone to hell and there are two minutes left to fix it.
Williams seems to enjoy that part.
Now Bears fans know what happens immediately before he tries to do it.
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