If you watched the Friday night broadcast from Sau Paolo Brazil of the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles game, you got a surprise interview snippet at halftime. Rookie quarterback for the Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams said that he idolized former Packers QB Aaron Rodgers as a player who he models his game after. Aaron is a prime example of a professional quarterback but has a long history of giving the Bears nightmares.
The California Connection
California has produced some of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Some legendary players were born there but did not play college football there. Such names include all-time great Tom Brady, current NFL stud Josh Allen, and heir to the Green Bay Packers QB throne – Jordan Love. All of those talents hail from the Golden State. Other remarkable players were born elsewhere but played college football in the nation’s third-largest state – California. Those famous quarterbacks include John Elway and Andrew Luck (Stanford), Carson Palmer (USC), and Troy Aikman (UCLA).
Though Caleb Williams was not born in California, he played football in college for USC. Caleb’s time as the Trojans quarterback had a profound impact on his life and his game. Being in the spotlight of Los Angeles sports and winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, catapulted him into fame and stardom. Being near the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the celebrities in Tinsel Town, prepared him for the attention of being the number one overall draft pick of the Chicago Bears. Caleb may feel pressure from pass rushers bearing down on him, but he learned the Southern California mindset to help him stay calm and collected in high-pressure situations.
The University of Southern California recently announced that it was retiring two football jersey numbers, Reggie Bush’s number five and Caleb Williams’ number 13. Both men won the Heisman trophy during their time there. Caleb must have also had a massive impact on USC, for his alma mater to be retiring his jersey so soon after his departure. Forever beloved in Southern California, it’s time to see if his jersey will eventually be retired from the Chicago Bears. Now in Chicago wearing number 18 for the Bears, all eyes are on Caleb Williams, who has been preparing for this Sunday’s game his entire life.
Be Like Mike, or Play Like Aaron?
Maybe a more accurate comparison for Caleb is another famous athlete who played in Chicago and was also born on the East Coast. None other than the most recognizable athlete in the history of the world, former Chicago Bulls star and global business icon – Michael Jeffery Jordan. Caleb Williams is the first athlete to have the opportunity to be the most famous person in Chicago since MJ if he plays the way he knows he can. One way to help him get there would be to play a lot like a former Chicago Bears foe, QB Aaron Rodgers.
“Play like Rodgers, but be like Mike” would be a perfect blueprint to win the hearts and imaginations of Chicago sports fans, and football fans across the entire country. With the NFL becoming more of a global league each year, playing games across several continents, Caleb’s fame and recognition could truly span the globe by the time he’s done in Chicago. Be like Mike – confident, professional, heart of a champion, work harder, and try harder than any other player on the field. Strive for greatness. Never back down.
Michael Jordan made many game-winning shots, but we forget that he also missed a lot of those shots. He was beloved because he never shied away from taking them. Mike lived for the big moments. Not all of them went his way, but most did because he never doubted his ability to compete with and beat anyone. If Caleb can achieve that mindset and have a similar will to win, this could be the perfect marriage in Sports Heaven between Caleb Williams and Chicago lore. Especially, if he plays football like Aaron Rodgers.
Aaron Rodgers is a name that has made Chicago Bears fans grimace for more than a decade. Bears fans usually keel over sick when they think about Aaron’s comments about “owning” the Bears for so many years. But what better way to make Bears fans forget about Aaron Rodgers, than for Caleb to play exactly like him, or even better? That’s what number 18 is here to do. He’s here to make Bears fans forget about Aaron Rodgers’ reign over Chicago and to win world championships for the city like Michael Jordan.
Final Thoughts
Let’s not put the cart before the horse here. After all, Caleb Williams has not played a down in the NFL yet. But, hot-diggity-ding-dang-dam is fun to think about his lucrative opportunity to skyrocket into global fame and sports history. With his rare talent, solid work ethic, and California-cool temperament, Caleb Williams seems poised to take Chicago, then the NFL, and ultimately sports fans everywhere by storm. “Play Like Aaron, Be Like Mike”. We’ll all be watching Caleb and the Bears this Sunday as another chapter in sports history begins in Chicago.
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