ORLANDO, Fla. — Seated at the back of the Chicago Bears’ suite, chairman George McCaskey watched basic supervisor Ryan Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and different workers members interview quarterback Caleb Williams on the NFL Scouting Mix.
It was 10:40 p.m.
“That’s slightly previous my bedtime,” McCaskey quipped.
Williams wasn’t drained, although.
“He was remarkably gregarious, engaged and pleasant,” McCaskey mentioned Tuesday in the course of the NFL homeowners’ conferences. “After they obtained right down to soccer, he was proper in it.”
McCaskey has been right here earlier than — actually and figuratively. The Bears’ interview with Williams wasn’t the primary he has sat by on the mix. He’s been part of lots, together with this yr with different quarterbacks and gamers.
“Again of the room, maintain my mouth shut, eyes and ears open,” McCaskey mentioned.
However there may be extra significance to Williams’ interview. The Bears are drafting a quarterback within the first spherical once more. There isn’t any shying away from that actuality.
Poles will draft his first quarterback as Bears GM, however for McCaskey, this choice is completely different. This quarterback — possible Williams — would be the third one taken within the first spherical since he took over as Bears chairman in 2011.
McCaskey has skilled the thrill of the choices of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields but additionally the frustration of their departures. Poles, Eberflus and president Kevin Warren can’t say the identical.
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Is McCaskey prepared for all of this once more?
“That’s as much as Ryan and his workers and Matt and his workers,” McCaskey mentioned. “I believe the vital factor is, whoever it’s, no matter place it’s, at (Nos.) 1 and 9 or no matter it winds up being, to have the assist in place. We’ve obtained good individuals in participant engagement, in coaching workers, tools workers, everyone to maximise the probabilities of success.”
The concern, after all, is that the Bears take Williams and the staff struggles with a rookie starter. The momentum that Eberflus’ protection seems to have from final season can’t carry the staff all through the 2024 season.
After which Eberflus and/or Poles will get fired, leaving Williams in limbo basically with new decision-makers round him.
It’s what the Bears do. Former coach John Fox was fired after Trubisky’s rookie yr. Former basic supervisor Ryan Tempo and coach Matt Nagy had been dismissed after Fields’ first season, although they traded up for him.
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And but, the vibe across the Bears feels completely different now. All of it. The group has modified. It doesn’t have the identical awkward really feel and predicament between GM and coach that it had in 2017 earlier than Trubisky was chosen. It doesn’t have the identical strain and scrutiny that existed for Nagy and Tempo in 2021.
As a substitute, Poles and Eberflus left the homeowners’ conferences collectively. They boarded a personal jet early Wednesday certain for Louisiana. Their analysis of the rookie quarterback class continued at LSU’s professional day with not solely Jayden Daniels but additionally receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. They’re doing this collectively. All of it.
Poles might need articulated it the most effective on “The Pat McAfee Present” on Tuesday.
“We had been employed to interrupt a cycle,” he mentioned.
You heard what he mentioned 😂😂
“We had been employed to interrupt a cycle and I actually consider that we’re about to do this..
We’re gonna get town of Chicago in a extremely good scenario” ~ Ryan Poles #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/wSJb0X0Vzn
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2024
McCaskey have to be part of that, too. He accepted the teardown that was the 2022 season for the Bears but additionally the whole lot that occurred after it. Constructing the Bears the appropriate approach would take time and a few luck. The latter has absolutely occurred with the Bears getting the primary choose once more. Nevertheless it’s on McCaskey and Warren to produce the time wanted.
“Success within the NFL is all a few fruits of actually good choices,” Warren mentioned, referencing his weekly standing conferences with Poles.
“However I all the time have a look at (Poles) and ask him, ‘Do you’ve got the whole lot you want for us to be a champion?’ And so long as he continues to say sure, then we’re shifting in the appropriate course.”
Poles’ first resolution was to maintain Eberflus. His seat was by no means as sizzling as some made it appear final season. As a substitute, Poles noticed a coach he believed in from day one current a united entrance throughout some early turmoil and end with 5 wins within the remaining eight video games with one of many league’s finest defenses. Poles’ perception and religion in Eberflus solely grew.
“Ryan has expressed his confidence in Matt,” McCaskey mentioned. “They’ve labored very nicely collectively. We’ve had some powerful seasons and we’re searching for higher days forward.”
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The Bears will want a quarterback for that to occur. They consider they’ve improved their infrastructure for his or her rookie with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, passing recreation coordinator Thomas Brown, quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph and offensive assistant Ryan Griffin.
Saying goodbye to Fields wasn’t simple for McCaskey, although.
“To start with, I wish to thank Justin for all he did for the Bears, each on and off the sector,” McCaskey mentioned. “And all he did for Bears followers. He made some spectacular performs that individuals are nonetheless speaking about. He understood what it meant to be the beginning quarterback of the Chicago Bears. He gave his time and his vitality. I noticed numerous instances after observe the place he was speaking to youngsters, spending time with youngsters.
“I keep in mind one time within the (Walter) Payton Heart, he walked over to a child sporting a No. 1 jersey and he mentioned, ‘Hey, I like your jersey.’ And you might see the child mild up. He did a fantastic job for us. Gave the whole lot he needed to the Bears, to town. And we’re very grateful.”
However McCaskey is aware of what’s subsequent. He’s been right here earlier than. The hope and pleasure of choosing a quarterback within the first spherical of the draft — this time No. 1 — will return quickly. The excitement is already there. McCaskey can’t ignore it.
The Bears could possibly be again quickly sufficient.
Lastly.
“Ryan and his workers and Matt and his workers have achieved a fantastic job,” McCaskey mentioned. “They’ve been grinding. They’ve been within the bunker, working exhausting. Working collectively very nicely, each staffs. That’s crucial. April 25 (is) crucial for the way forward for the Bears.”
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(Photograph of Caleb Williams: Jason Parkhurst / USA Right this moment)