Chicago isn’t Hollywood.
And Bears veteran Jaylon Johnson wants USC’s Caleb Williams, the Bears’ presumed 2024 starting quarterback, to remember that, should he be selected first overall by Chicago in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
“You just humble your stuff coming into the building. You can’t bring that Hollywood stuff into the building, especially with guys who played this game at a high level for consecutive years in the league,” Johnson said on “Up & Adams” on Thursday. “What you did in college, the Hollywood, it’s like ‘Nah, you gotta prove yourself. That stuff like that doesn’t matter.’ You gotta get to know him too.
“I think there’s a fine line between trying to prove a point to him but also getting to know him. At the end of the day, we want him to be the absolute best he can be. That’s what we’re bringing him in for, to win games. Truly just learning who he is as a person and learning him deeper than just all the Hollywood stuff you see, but actually trying to learn and get to know him and then knowing from there what pushes him.”
The Bears have long had quarterback issues — think Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky — but they are hoping their franchise quarterback drought will finally end with Williams.
Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy and amassed prolific numbers with the Trojans, and his dual-threat abilities should set him up for success in today’s NFL.
Johnson’s “Hollywood” remarks referred to Williams playing for the Trojans in Southern California, and how that’s a vastly different locale than Chicago.
Chicago loves its grind-it-out, blue-collar stars, compared to the flashy personas of Rodeo Drive.
The Bears are attempting to help ease Williams’ transition to the NFL by adding veteran playmakers in receiver Keenan Allen and running back D’Andre Swift in free agency.
Johnson is back to lead the defense after signing a four-year, $76 million extension this offseason, and said he would “excited” to have Williams leading the show.
The Bears cleared the path for Williams by trading their former starter in Fields to the Steelers last week.
“You kinda hear all of the comparisons, the ‘generational talent’ and all that being thrown around. So I think, for me, just excited on that note of it,” Johnson said. “But I think, too, it’s hard to compare him to Patrick Mahomes and guys like that. Patrick Mahomes didn’t come in right away and do what he’s been doing the last few years in his rookie year. It took him some time.
“Just being patient with his progress, being patient with how he comes in and the mistakes he’s gonna make and the plays that he’s gonna make. He’s a very talented guy. He definitely do some things with his feet, he has plenty of arm talent, I feel like there’s not a throw that he can’t make.”
