Ryan Poles sends crystal clear message to Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels comparisons
By Ryan Heckman
As the Chicago Bears prepare for an international showdown in London with the Jacksonville Jaguars, all eyes are on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to see what he's going to do next.
Over his first five games in the NFL, Williams has steadily improved. His most recent outing in Week 5 saw Williams go for his second 300-yard game of the year, already, paired with two touchdowns and turnover-free football.
It was a dominant performance over the Carolina Panthers, and now against the Jaguars, Williams has the chance to continue his stellar play.
A major storyline when it comes to Williams, so far, has revolved around people comparing him to another rookie quarterback in the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels. Because Daniels has taken the league by storm and has Washington surprisingly sitting at 4-1, it's been easy to compare, question and contrast the two rookies.
Yet, that's not where Ryan Poles' head is at, nor should it be where anyone's is.
When speaking to the media Wednesday, from London, the Bears' general manager revealed the message he sent to Williams amidst all of the rookie chatter.
Ryan Poles says that he wants "Caleb to run his own race" and not compare himself to where Jayden Daniels has started his career.
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 9, 2024
Poles' message to Williams was right on point with where the rookie's attitude should be. He and Daniels are different players, on different teams and under different circumstances.
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As a professional, Williams' goal is to stay focused on what matters most, and that's the 2024 Chicago Bears.
There is no reason to compare Caleb Williams to Jayden Daniels
The best part about all of the comparisons has to do with Williams' number one goal being to win football games. Since Day 1, he has been adamant about this. He's wanted to win football games, win playoff games and ultimately win Super Bowls.
That's it.
The accolades might come, but Williams has already been of the mindset that this is not about him, but about the team. So many of the pre-draft narratives were written to try and make Williams out to be a completely different person, but he's proven to be the polar opposite of those negative stories.
All he's done is compliment his coaches, teammates and speak honestly when spoken to. Now, that's not to say Daniels hasn't done that either. Both Williams and Daniels have been great for the league. Daniels' exciting play, thus far, is clearly one of the bigger stories around the league, and for good reason.
But, when it comes to Williams, nobody should be drawing comparisons. He and Daniels are two very different players and have made big impacts on their teams in their own ways.
Instead of comparing the two of them, the best route to take from here on out would be to thoroughly enjoy their careers alongside one another. Watching these two, for years to come, could turn out to be a special era in the NFL, so let's enjoy every minute of it.
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