The Chicago Bears, with Caleb Williams, can restore life in a once proud sports city

Over a year ago, I wrote an article on how the Bears have a chance to own this city despite coming off a 3-14 season in 2022 because the rest of the Chicago sports teams were not doing great at the time.

Justin Fields came off a season where he flashed incredible running abilities, giving us so many highlight-reel plays despite the worst record in franchise history. Adding that with DJ Moore's arrival, there was reason to be excited about what the Bears could have been in 2023.

Unfortunately, the Bears finished 7-10 last season and Fields was traded to Pittsburgh in the off-season for only a 6th-round pick. The Bears are starting over at quarterback again.

This season, Caleb Williams takes over as the starting quarterback. And while he has a daunting task of leading the Bears, the front office made sure he will be successful right from the start by trading for Keenan Allen, signing Gerald Everett and D'Andre Swift, and drafting Rome Odunze.

A lot is riding on Williams and the Bears this season. The sports scene in Chicago has never been more mediocre and depressing right now.

The Chicago Cubs have been mediocre the entire season thanks to a disastrous bullpen and lack of clutch hitting. Unlike other big-market organizations, owner Tom Ricketts and embattled executive Jed Hoyer continue to push a false-narrative about "intelligent spending." They do not act or operate like a big-market team, which leaves many fans frustrated.

Meanwhile, over on the southside, the Chicago White Sox have already lost over 100 games and still have a chance to set the MLB record for losses in a single season breaking the record set by the New York Mets in 1962. The owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago Bulls, has basically given up on winning, and the apathy by the fans has never been higher. As long as Reinsdorf exists, the White Sox will always be an afterthought in Chicago.

The Chicago Blackhawks have some life thanks to winning the NHL Draft lottery and drafting Connor Bedard last season. The team got a second overall pick in this year's draft and drafted Artyom Levshunov, but the playoffs next season are out of the question. At least with Bedard, they have a chance to be relevant again.

The Chicago Bulls' glory days of winning six NBA championships, the last one coming 25 years ago, have been long forgotten. Their goal these days is to make the playoff play-in game. Playing in a near-capacity United Center every home game has not helped, as Reinsdorf sees no reason to improve the team, much like the White Sox.

The Bears can save the city and the frustrated fans from sports mediocrity this season.

That leaves the Chicago Bears as the only hope. Yes, the jury is still out on head coach Matt Eberflus. Yes, Williams is still a rookie, so he will definitely make typical rookie mistakes, which the fans will have to accept. And yes, the fans have no confidence in the Bears ownership and they are just as worse as the other Chicago sports owners. But the Bears are in a prime position because other franchises are fumbling badly.

After decades of poor drafts and salary cap mismanagement, the Bears have finally found the right men to lead the franchise in general manager Ryan Poles and his assistant Ian Cunningham. While sheer luck definitely played a huge role, they have completely retooled the Bears roster in two years and drafted Caleb Williams in this year's NFL Draft to put a finishing touch on their rebuild. They are ready to win now and must produce tangible results this season.

There is no question the fans have become disenchanted with the Bears organization over the years. As the late John Madden once said, the NFL is much better when the Chicago Bears are successful. They must seize this opportunity to win over the city and the fans.