In the first episode of Hard Knocks featuring the Chicago Bears, Head Coach Matt Eberflus met with former Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban to talk about one of the most exciting college prospects the Bears have ever drafted.
Caleb Williams was heading into the draft as the most likely option to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, and with the Chicago Bears holding Carolina's 2024 first-round pick, the Bears drafted a quarterback with the No. 1 pick for the first time in their illustrious history.
Drafting Caleb Williams brought a lot of media attention around a team that's used to having everything they do get scrutinized. So, in a sense, a team that's constantly berated by local media drafted one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in recent years in the eyes of the mainstream media.
However, with the Chicago Bears drafting Williams with the No. 1 pick in April, the Bears and Williams officially tied the knot.
The Bears have consistently been a team that struggles in the quarterback department, but this time seems different, and coach Nick Saban believes the same. As one of the best college football coaches in history, Saban's understanding of the development of college football players is among the best maybe ever.
Matt Eberflus and Nick Saban discuss Caleb Williams on first episode of HBO's Hard Knocks featuring the Chicago Bears
And there was a portion of Eberflus' conversations with Saban on what's most important for Caleb Williams to be the player many believe he can be.
This is good stuff. Nick Saban talking to Matt Eberflus about Caleb Williams. #Bears #RollTide pic.twitter.com/SsXEPHsRxW
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) August 6, 2024
The biggest thing, in Saban's mind, is to not let expectations ruin something that could be great. An example Saban used was the infamous Peyton Manning rookie season. In his rookie season with the Colts after being selected with the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning led the Colts to a 3-13 record, completing 56.7% of his passes for 3,739 yards, 26 touchdowns, and a record 28 interceptions.
However, it didn't affect Manning's ability to be great in the NFL. Following his not-so-ideal record-setting first year in the NFL, he'd go on to be considered as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
So, while Caleb Williams comes into the NFL with a laundry list of expectations from some, the biggest piece of advice that Saban has for him is to not let the outside noise affect his ability to go out and be great. Williams has the physical tools necessary, but it's about putting everything together now.