Former Bears QB Jim McMahon offers awesome advice to Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams has never faced the kind of pressure that’s headed his way as the starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears. Sure, he’s been the star player for two mega college football programs, but as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft for a team that’s never had a franchise quarterback, Williams will be tasked with breaking the century-long curse the Bears have endured at quarterback.

Perhaps Chicago’s quarterback history hasn’t been that bad. Jim McMahon certainly did his part to win a lot of games and the only Super Bowl victory in Bears history way back in 1985. But the drought under center started almost immediately after that “85 season — it’s been nearly 40 years since the Chicago Bears have had a quarterback they can rely on.

Caleb Williams must be that guy, and he must be that guy right away. There won’t be any patience or logic applied by Bears fans in 2024. Williams has to be a quarterback who can challenge for 4,000 passing yards, win double-digit games, and lead this playoff-ready team to the playoffs.

But McMahon offered another demand Williams must meet, and it’s something Bears fans will appreciate, even if he falls short of those potentially unrealistic goals.

“If I could give you just one piece of advice, and that’s to play hard,” McMahon said. “If you play hard, the fans will love you. And if you happen to play hard and win it all, the fans are going to love you forever.”