LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — At the end of a careful evaluation process that carried franchise-altering implications, the Bears made a decision that had been a mere formality for weeks.
Chicago selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday evening. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement at the draft in Detroit, marking the start of a new era of hope in Chicago. Williams is the latest much-heralded quarterback prospect to join the Bears, and he intends to be different than his predecessors who fell short of expectations.
"I believe in the culture they've been building," Williams said after being selected by the Bears.
"The biggest thing is that they want to win. That was the biggest and most important thing."
The Bears landed the No. 1 overall pick from the NFL-worst Panthers as part of the trade package that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from Chicago to Carolina. In that deal, the Bears also acquired star receiver DJ Moore, a first-round pick in 2023 that allowed them to land offensive tackle Darnell Wright, a second-round pick in 2023 that was used to select cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and a 2025 second-round pick from the Panthers.
Williams, 22, won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 as he threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions at USC last season. Williams played in 11 games at Oklahoma as a freshman in 2021 before transferring to Southern California.
The Bears selected Williams over a talented group of quarterbacks that included 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels (LSU), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan). Chicago has now turned to Williams after being led for the past three years by quarterback Justin Fields, who was traded to Pittsburgh in March for a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles and his scouting brass met multiple times with Williams, including across several days in Los Angeles in March and during his official top-30 visit at Halas Hall in early April.
Williams is the 11th quarterback selected by the Bears in the first round of the NFL Draft, with Fields being the most recent in 2021. Williams joins a franchise that has a tortured history in searching for a great quarterback. Jay Cutler is Chicago’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Sid Luckman, who last played in 1950, is second on those lists. Mitchell Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, ranks fifth in passing yards and touchdowns in franchise history after starting 50 games in a Bears uniform.
The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer in franchise history. The rival Packers have had quarterbacks reach the 4,000-yard passing mark 18 times, most recently in 2023 by first-year starter Jordan Love.
The Bears have devoted much of this offseason to improving their roster around the quarterback position. They dealt a fourth-round pick to the Chargers in March to acquire six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, creating a dynamic pairing with Moore. Chicago boasts the only current wide receiver tandem in the NFL with two players who surpassed 1,200 receiving yards last season. The Bears also signed running back D’Andre Swift, tight end Gerald Everett and center Coleman Shelton in free agency.
The Bears currently have just three selections remaining in this draft – No. 9 overall in the first round, No. 75 overall in the third round and No. 122 overall in the fourth round. The team is expected to introduce Williams in a press conference Friday at Halas Hall.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .
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