The start of the NFL season is quickly approaching. The first time fans get the chance to see teams on the field in uniform is the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Set against the backdrop of the Hall of Fame enshrinement, the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will face off to open up the NFL preseason. Although the preseason can be a dull version of what is to come in week one, it is still a welcomed occasion for football junkies.
This year the Chicago Bears tout the number one overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft Caleb Williams. The hype surrounding Williams, the Chicago offense, and all of the momentum started by the Bears last season led to them being selected for HBO’s Hard Knocks. Chicago having three Hall of Famers being enshrined in Canton helped make it an easy decision to let them participate in the opening game on the 2024-25 schedule. Fans will be disappointed though, when they see that it will be Tyson Bagent, not Caleb Williams, who runs the huddle for the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears Rookie Skipping HOF Game
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Caleb Williams has made news this summer in his first couple of months with the Chicago Bears. His contract situation has drawn almost as much attention as his play on the field. The first overall pick was late in signing his rookie deal with the team, even asking for his contract to be signed to his LLC in an effort to get around Illinois taxes. With his contract drama now in the rearview mirror, fans can look to the football field exclusively to see their new franchise quarterback, just not this Thursday.
By all accounts, the Chicago Bears revamped offense has been shining in training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season’s first action in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday. Under first-year Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron, buoyed by a new slew of offensive weapons, the Chicago offense has been the talk of training camp in Lake Forest. Fans will have to wait to see the reason behind the buzz, however, as Caleb Williams will not be active Thursday for the Hall of Fame Game.
Bears Season Outlook
The Bears are benching many of their projected starters for the preseason game, but none with as much fanfare, mystery, and excitement around them as Caleb Williams. The first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is hoping to end a long stretch of misery for the Chicago Bears at the quarterback position that dates back to the pre-Super Bowl era. Williams will have to wait at least another week as his preseason work will have to be in the team’s final three games before the Chicago Bears open the season against the Tennessee Titans.
Chicago Bears fans are chomping at the bit to see their rookie quarterback on the field but for the time being, they can subtract seeing Williams from their priority list. With three Hall of Famers commemorating their Chicago careers this week in Canton in the form of Julius Peppers, Devin Hester, and Steve McMichael, the emphasis for fans can be on celebrating the past before turning attention to what is hopefully a productive future.
Even with Williams not suiting up on Thursday, football season is officially 48 hours from getting underway. He mentioned his wishes to play in this game but was ultimately overruled by Head Coach Matt Eberflus.
