LAKE FOREST, Sick. — The Chicago Bears named eight captains for the 2024 season Monday, together with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
The choice course of for crew captains has traditionally been primarily based on participant voting. The No. 1 draft choose is the primary rookie to earn the excellence since Bears coach Matt Eberflus was employed in 2022 and is believed to be the one first-year participant in franchise historical past to be named a season-long captain because the crew formally started appointing them in 2007.
“Once you come to work each day like he did, and undergo the issues that he needed to develop by means of, particularly in opposition to the protection, and also you see the work that he was placing in day in and day trip, I imply you’ll be able to’t do something however respect that and need him to be a captain for you,” broad receiver DJ Moore mentioned.
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Williams’ management has been a sizzling subject all through the offseason after the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner changed quarterback Justin Fields, who was traded to Pittsburgh in March. The rookie’s potential to win over the locker room since arriving in Could is among the many highlights of his early Bears profession for normal supervisor Ryan Poles.
“It is pretty pure,” Poles famous of Williams’ management. “It is not compelled. We have all been in groups earlier than, however like there’s those who come into these conditions they usually strive too arduous. It is like, man, it is awkward. It is arduous to purchase into that. Then there’s guys that they will navigate that so naturally as a result of they’re genuine and it is actual, and that is what he is finished. Then on high of that, simply as knowledgeable participant, it’s a must to carry out, it’s a must to do some issues that guys are like, ‘OK, there’s one thing completely different about you.’ After which pair that with pure, simply good social expertise, some cool issues occur after which management begins to blossom and that is what you see now.”
Williams, 22, is among the many youngest on the Bears roster to be named captain, whereas 40-year-old tight finish Marcedes Lewis is the oldest. Moore, tight finish Cole Kmet, linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and security Kevin Byard III have been additionally chosen.
“I do know it is a bigger group than we’re used to, however we’ve got an even bigger group of management now than we have had these couple years below our belt,” Eberflus mentioned. “And now we received this third yr going so I actually really feel sturdy about these guys, they usually know the primary rule of management is main themselves and being the instance we need to see when it comes to work ethic, when it comes to management, when it comes to standing up when it’s a must to converse. However largely lead by your actions.”
Eberflus mentioned he didn’t know whether or not the Bears would proceed to call an honorary captain every week, as he had throughout his first two seasons in Chicago. Williams is the primary rookie captain Eberflus has coached in 16 NFL seasons.
“I had it with offense and protection, and had the fellows rank these guys and [Williams] got here out actually excessive,” he mentioned. “All these guys did. That is what’s nice about it. And we had different guys that had nice votes, too, simply not sufficient to get into that captain’s vote. However that is a extremely good signal that he is received management all through your entire crew.”
